122 Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



hunter might, if allowed to take his own time at it, and 

 accordingly constructed a series of fortifications which 

 were truly appalling to behold. Out of a large number 

 of entries, only four faced the starter. There was Mr. 

 Macleod on Delphos, Mr. Guise of "the Buffs" on 

 Rufus, Mr. Oakeley of the 8th King's on Lady Jane, 

 and myself on Brown Duchess. On being shown round 

 the course, we managed to prevail on the stewards, who 

 were present, to cut down a little some of the fences, 

 the most of which, however, were too stiff to yield to 

 mere hand work. When we were delivered over to the 

 starter we found facing us an unbreakable hurdle nearer 

 five than four feet high. Mr. Macleod and myself were 

 the first over it, and we took, side by side, the second 

 fence, a high mud wall, over which Lady Jane fell and 

 parted from her rider. Brown Duchess jumped the next 

 obstacle, a watercourse, very stickily, so I had to ride 

 her, to keep by Delphos, going at the fourth fence, a 

 post and rails, made of logs, and quite four feet high. 

 The marc negotiated it with all her marvellous cleverness 

 for timber, but Delphos struck it heavil}' and came 

 down. After that I had a quiet ride over the course^ 

 as Rufus, the only other animal that got round, refused 

 repeatedly at every fence. 



