46 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



every few yards, and settling down at a short distance again. 

 When tired of this rather perilous sport, packs of rock- 

 pigeon and coveys of the dark-brown quail, amongst the 

 rocks and on the sides of the hills, afforded plenty of sport 

 until it was time to return to tiffin and pale ale : for both of 

 which my morning's amusement had given me an appetite, 

 to be envied by those who passed their time in sedentary 

 occupations at home. 



Not far from this spot, and amongst a tope of mango trees, 

 was situated the quiet little abode of a Fakeer,* with 

 whom I had managed to scrape an acquaintance, and from 

 whom I learnt, by rote, some of the first elements of Hindos- 

 tanee I picked up. He was not one of those dirty and dis- 

 gusting objects so common amongst this class, but a vene- 

 rable, respectable-looking character, quite of the "high 

 church" school; and whatever his conduct may have been 

 amongst his own parishioners or co-religionists, he certainly 

 never attempted to practise any humbug or imposition on 

 me. When tired with shooting, and bathed in perspiration, 

 I sought his shady little garden, and, squatting down in the 

 shade beside him, smoked my cheroot as an accompaniment 

 to his " hubble-bubble," he always had a " chatty" of cold 

 fresh water, and my boy produced the bottle of cognac, 

 which I informed the old gentleman was an English medi- 

 cine, beneficial in most cases, but a sovereign specific for 

 hypochondria. I have a strong suspicion that Mahomed 

 Bundar's experience in the world had made him quite au 

 fait to the real state of the case ; but, at all events, he con- 

 cealed his knowledge, if he possessed it, and received and 

 quaffed his medicine as one of the most docile of patients. 



Amongst the sports peculiar to the East, and for the 



* A Mahometan wandering priest, or devotee. 



