of the Old World. 29 



beaters had marked down several sounders (herds) 

 of hog in a long strip of low jungle, contiguous to 

 some tolerable riding ground, and had formed a 

 chain, so as to prevent them making their way 

 back into the denser cover. 



As the moon was nearly at the full, and the 

 distance but short, beating was to commence at 

 daylight, and first-rate sport was anticipated, for 



we had some old hands amongst us such as D , 



S , N , C , and O , who were well 



known as the best spears and the boldest riders in 

 the Deccan, where hog-hunting, ever the favourite 

 sport, was carried on in the greatest perfection, so 

 that the first sportsmen of India came from far-off 

 stations to display their skill, and the goodness 

 and courage of their cattle, at these meetings. 



As it became dusk, some one sounded the din- 

 ner-call on a key-bugle, which had a very fine 

 effect, as the sound was echoed in the dome several 

 times, as also among the other tombs. We sat 

 down nearly thirty to table; and after the clatter- 

 ing of knives and forks, and the popping of corks, 

 had subsided, we withdrew to one of the kiosks or 

 pleasure houses in the garden, where songs and 

 brandy panee* passed round freely until a late 

 hour. 



Since that night many long years have glided 



* Brandy and water. 



