112 The Hunting Grounds 



prophet's seventh heaven, and the green-kerchiefed 

 damsels who ever attend " the Faithful ' : in 

 Paradise. 



Their regular features, soft skins, and full swim- 

 ming eyes glancing through their glossy raven hair, 

 gave them, in my eyes, an interest which the colder 

 beauties of northern climates have never raised. 

 Gentle reader, have you ever visited the land of the 

 sun ? If so, you, too, must have marked that 

 languid, expressive voluptuousness issuing forth from 

 the gazelle-like eyes of her daughters, which you seek 

 for in vain in other less favoured lands. You, too, 

 may have been captivated by some one of the many 

 fair maidens of Hind ; and, perhaps, as you have 

 gazed intensely into the depths of her dark and ever- 

 changing eyes, which, sparkling with their brightness, 

 lovingly refracted back your own, you have felt they 

 spoke a language your heart has well understood ; 

 and perhaps at such a time, as you have gently put 

 away those thick jet-black and glossy tresses from her 

 fair brow, you have whispered softly in her ear, 

 " Mera Jan, tera waste mera dil panee ho gia!" 

 (My life ! on account of you my heart has become 

 water) ; and when her fond, expressive glance has met 

 your gaze, and she has twined her snow-white arms 

 around your neck, you have " ta'en her answer from 

 her murmuring lips," and felt, as you pressed her 

 delicate and yielding form the closer to your bosom, 



