98 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



are not often Indian witches of the Tarn o'Shanter 

 stamp. The lively young lady in the ' cutty sark ' 

 is not of a species prevalent in the tropics." 



"No. But she was an exceptional one, even in 

 Tarn's day. Remember, all her companions were old 

 and ugly. I suppose her youth was the reason why 

 she is represented as outflying the rest, and cap- 

 turing the mare's tail, and so nearly bringing her 

 rider to grief." 



" How do they try or punish them ? As of old, 

 by ducking ? " 



" By all sorts of ways. Tying the head in a bag 

 of powdered chillies and hanging the accused up by 

 the heels, is an unpleasant way of arriving at truth 

 not uncommonly practised. But, after all, some of 

 our English boors are not much better. I read an 

 account the other day of an old Frenchman who 

 died from the effects of a ducking administered by 

 some bold Britons, who chose to fancy the poor 

 creature a sorcerer." 



