Life in Tirhoot. 155 



" togs," and were down to mount our horses that were 

 waiting for us in front of the house. A score or more 

 of dogs of various breeds, from the greyhound to the 

 nondescript pariah, were then let loose, and off we 

 trotted to hunt any jackal, fox, hare, or wolf we might 

 meet with in a two or three hour circuit. Unlike most 

 parts of India, the "going" in Tirhoot is generally good, 

 with a fair sprinkling of fences, without which a gallop 

 is but tame fun. We were hardly ever without a few 

 runs, and usually wound up by a "school" home. By 

 the time we returned the air was all aglow with the fierce 

 heat of the sun, and we were glad to get under shelter, 

 drink an iced brandy and soda, take off our clothes, and 

 have a comfortable bath. That being over, we got into 

 our clean cotton and linen garments, had our cJihotee 

 Jiaziree, or little breakfast, and trifled with tea or coffee, 

 hot buttered toast and poached eggs, preserved tongues, 

 tinned red mullet, herrings a la sardine, and other hors 

 d'auvres, which would not seriously interfere with the 

 all-important tiffen. We read or answered our corre- 

 spondence, looked through the papers, had a game or 

 two of billiards, "bucked" about sport and our morn- 

 ing's adventures, and thus pleasantly whiled away the 

 time till twelve or half-past, when tiffen was announced 



