of the Old World. 23 



CHAPTER II. 



i 



HOG-HUNTING. 



The fortress of Golconda. The Tombs of the Kings. The 

 gardens. Persian inscriptions. The gathering. Plan of 

 operations. Reminiscences of the past. The start. The 

 rendezvous. My nag Lai Babba. A moment of suspense. 

 The find. We're away. The chase. The first blood. A purl. 

 The advantages of being on good terms with one's nag. The 

 tug of war. Exciting moments. The struggle for the spear. 

 It is won. The charge. Mischief ensues. The death of 

 the boar. The wounded hog- hunter. The death of an old 

 friend. The trysting-tree. The trophies. The return to 

 cantonment. 



IT was evening; the oppressive glare and over- 

 powering heat of the day were gone, and the 

 sun was setting with that gorgeous magnificence 

 which is rarely to be seen except in " land of the 

 cedar and vine.'' His last expiring rays tinged 

 the whole of the heavens, from the western horizon 

 to the zenith, with indescribably beautiful gold and 

 crimson hues, and striking upon the numerous gilt 

 pinnacles of the mosques and minarets which rose 



