354 THE EASTERN HUNTEES. 



grating as he left the room, and, I am sorry to say, 

 on the supposition that some one was there, violently 

 winked his eye. Possibly it may have reached 

 some old harridan the zenanah attendant ; possibly 

 some blooming, fair Rajpoot girl, longing for freedom 

 and an intrigue ; possibly it fell dead on the unim- 

 pressionable stone : but which, it was not destined 

 he should ever learn. 



After being escorted as before through the 

 village, the hunters galloped off to their tents. 



The village at which their camp was pitched also 

 belonged to the chief, who possessed a "Jagheer," 

 or estate, of considerable extent. Sheik Hussein 

 informed them, with much importance, that a sheep, 

 some bottles of liquor, and several trays of sweet- 

 meats, had been sent for their acceptance ; and that 

 orders had been issued that grass, wood, and milk 

 should be furnished free during their stay at any 

 villages acknowledging the chief as their lord. 



The sheep, liquor, and sweetmeats were, as 

 etiquette required, accepted ; but the sportsmen 

 issued strict injunctions that everything received 

 from the villagers should be paid for, being well 

 aware that, too often, a good portion of the loss falls 

 on the villager who brings the supplies. 



However, a polite message was returned ; and, 

 what, perhaps, was more acceptable a couple of 



