28 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



During several days in the week he rose early, either for 

 drill, parade, or other military duties, which were always 

 concluded by eight o'clock. Breakfast, which was usually 

 partaken of in the society of several companions, was served 

 soon after, and generally consisted of curries, salt fish, rice, 

 eggs, omelettes, &c., after which, and perhaps the smallest taste 

 of brandy pawnee, the hookah, narghile, or cheroots occu- 

 pied his leisure time until eleven. He then dressed himself; 

 that is, put on a clean suit of white ; and if the regiment 

 possessed a billiard-table, played a few games before tiffin, 

 which was always served in the mess-room at half-past one, 

 and which, indeed, to the old hands, was the principal meal 

 of the day, and at which most of the materials and con- 

 comitants of a sumptuous dinner appeared upon the table. 

 Hot and high-seasoned dishes pampered the weakened and 

 depraved appetite, and Madeira, claret, and pale ale, flowed 

 in reckless profusion. About four or five o'clock, if there 

 was no evening parade, which was not often the case, billiards 

 were resumed, or perhaps rackets, (rather a singular game 

 for an Indian climate, and after a profuse meal.) Towards 

 sunset, a short ride; and at seven, a dinner was served in 

 the mess-room, similar in most respects to the previous 

 tiffin, and at which those members, whose powers of absorp- 

 tion and inglutition were equal to a fresh tax upon their 

 strength, again made their appearance, again fought their 

 way through curries, stews, and grills, and again distin- 

 guished themselves amongst the votaries to the shrine of the 

 immortal Hodgson.* The post-prandial sittings were also 



* The great pale ale brewer. At the period of my arrival in India, this 

 and the names of " Day and Martin," the blacking manufacturers, were so 

 well known amongst the natives, that they were considered universal 

 celebrities ; and upon one occasion, having a quantity of books I had no 

 means of carrying with me, and I wished to dispose of to a native hawker, 

 I was asked by him whether the works in question were Hodgson's or Day 

 and Martin's ! 



