PAYMENT OF BEATERS. 41 



The leaf, neatly twisted, was pinned together with 

 baubel, or other thorns, seldom wanting in India. 

 When thus prepared by hands well used to the 

 operation, an efficient cup was in the possession of 

 each man, and a wine-glassful, or thereabouts, of 

 the potent spirit was poured by one of the servants 

 into each. Nor was much time allowed for leakage 

 it being, in most cases, turned immediately down the 

 throat of the recipient. 



This concluded, the poor simple creatures went 

 on their way rejoicing, declaring that " they were 

 always ready with their families man, woman, and 

 child to beat the jungles for such kind and just 

 lords. Never had better Sahib people come to those 

 parts." 



I hope it will not be taken amiss by those young 

 Indian sportsmen, who do me the honour of reading 

 this little book, if I venture to suggest to them, that 

 in any future trip, they should act as we have seen 

 Mackenzie do, and pay the beaters themselves. To 

 allow the shikarees, or servants, to do so without 

 being personally superintended by one of the 

 hunters themselves, is tantamount to fleecing them 

 of a per-centage of their hardly-earned wages. If 

 this duty is entrusted to some native go-between, he 

 is almost certain to pay himself at the expense of 

 the wretched creatures who have done a fail 1 day's 



