46 The Hunting Grounds 



The scene in camp, though of every-day occur- 

 rence in India, would appear curious enough to a 

 stranger, and merits description, for the noise of 

 the trumpeting of elephants, the jingling of the 

 camel's bells, the neighing of horses, the lowing 

 of carriage bullocks, the bargaining of sepoys and 

 camp followers with the bazaar men, was only 

 heightened by the chase of a stray capon, whose 

 errant ways were calling forth the indignation of 

 my maity (cook) "Five minutes" (a cognomen he 

 had acquired from the invariable answer he gave 

 when anything was wanted), who, joined by half 

 a dozen sepoys, was shying his slippers at this 

 victim devoted to "sudden death" for our break- 

 fast, and venting their spleen by abusing its fe- 

 male relations up to the tenth generation. Three 

 English officers belonging to the detachment of 

 infantry, and a Scotch doctor, who had medical 

 charge of the party, had taken refuge under a 

 large tamarind tree from the rays of the sun, that 

 was rising high on a sky which had not a cloud 

 upon it to intercept his beams, and were discussing 

 brandy panee, tea, and manilla cheroots, waiting 

 until their tents were properly established. 



As I joined the group, the old Patel, or head 

 man of the village, came up, and having presented 

 the customary lime, performed a series of low 

 salaams to each of the party. He then drew up 



