JUNGLE - COOKER V. 141 



were covered with a rich green grass, whose silken tassels, two and a half 

 feet in length, of a silvery or ashy grey, raised themselves on graceful stalks 

 over the broad level of green leaves, themselves ten to twelve feet in height. 

 Higher up the sides of the valley the tassel-grass was replaced by the grace- 

 ful wild plantain, whose broad, emerald-green fronds, some drooping, some 

 shooting up to a height of twenty feet, contrasted effectively with the dark- 

 green feathery leaves of the bamboos. 



The elephants were scattered in all directions, gathering their night's 

 fodder, pulling down branches, bearing over with a fore-foot and uprooting 

 the succulent plantain, or reaping the long grass with their trunks with a 

 swishing sound. The attendant of each stood upon its broad back, laying 

 the fodder evenly across as the patient and sagacious animal collected and 

 handed it up. This was work which suited the elephants, who grazed at 

 leisure, and only handed up of their abundance when adjured with more than 

 usual earnestness to tidl (in elephant language, to " hand up "). Towards, 

 nightfall they came in, moving mounds of green, the mahout or grass-cuttei 

 perched upon the evenly-balanced load, singing blithely. My dogs were 

 l)dng upon the tent -sacks, whilst I sat by the fire amusing myself by 

 watching the preparations for dinner. The cook is busy near a small trench 

 over the fire, in which two or three pots and saucepans are simmering in a 

 row. A duck is roasting on a bamboo spit over a pan of charcoal, a sauce- 

 pan-lid being ingeniously propped sideways underneath it to catch the gravy, 

 whilst avoiding the fire, and basting goes on merrily. My interest in the 

 operation is of a complacent nature, as I know the bird will shortly appear, 

 as nicely browned, as correctly stuffed, and as neatly served, as it could be 

 in headquarters. 



One or two chickens which have got out of the rough jungle-coop are 

 going about " wee- weeing " mournfully as night closes in and thoughts of 

 jackals affright them. They are not to be overlooked ! they are objects of 

 tender solicitude, and will be wanted before' many days, either for curry or 

 " ishtew " (stew !). E'en now the cook's minions make insidious advances 

 towards them, seize them, shrieking, and thrust them into the basket amongst 

 their fellows, where they shortly settle down and are at peace. 



And now for dinner. What a blessiQg it is to have a good Madras 

 cook in Bengal ! The roast duck forms one of the few cases in life where 

 reality does not faU short of anticipation ; the curry could not be mistaken, 

 even by an idiot, for the less spicy productions of the artistes of the leading 

 Presidency ; and I am not required by my chef to contemplate any of the 

 culinary audacities which Bengalee bohhachees (as cooks are there called. 

 Heaven help them !) designate as puddings. 



