of the Old World. 217 



tuted a sanitarium ; and here may be seen invalid 

 officers from all parts of the Madras and Bombay 

 Presidencies, who have obtained leave of absence 

 from their regiments, for periods varying from six 

 months to two years, in order to recruit their health, 

 during which time they draw their full pay and allow- 

 ances, which from some stupid fancy of the East 

 India Board is not the case when they are obliged to 

 return to Europe. The consequence is that Ooty 

 somewhat resembles a fast watering-place, and is ex- 

 tremely gay ; balls, parties, and picnics being of com- 

 mon occurrence. 



Surrounded by splendid hunting-grounds, it is the 

 head-quarters of sportsmen; for wherever there is 

 anything to hunt that promises sport, Englishmen 

 are sure to set out in pursuit. As a nation we are 

 essentially sportsmen, for the chase in all its branches 

 seems indigenous to the country. Taking, for 

 example, the officers of our army and navy, who 

 are scattered all over the face of the globe, thousands 

 of miles from their native land, we find that neither a 

 burning sun and the enervating influence of a tropical 

 climate, nor an icy temperature, can damp their 

 ardour for field-sports, which, notwithstanding every 

 disadvantage, they endeavour to keep up. Such 

 being the case, it is not therefore surprising that in 

 Ooty there is a well-established subscription pack 

 of hounds for hunting the fox and jackal, besides 



