of the Old World. 349 



the one we came by, and arrived at our hut by sunset, 



where we had the gratification of finding K and 



C enjoying a bath in the lake. We joined 



them, and after a most refreshing dip, sat down to a 

 famous dinner, in which my chef de cuisine, " Five 

 Minutes," outvied all his previous performances by 

 indulging us in a most delicious pie made of the 

 bison's marrow. After due justice had been done to 

 the good cheer, and we had received the hearty con- 

 gratulations of our guests on our shooting achieve- 

 ments, we adjourned outside the hut, to indulge in 

 the " fragrant weed " and the cup that cheers but does 



not inebriate, and B much amused us by relating 



an account of Paddy Lynch's first rencontre with 

 "wild bastes." Paddy landed as a cadet at Madras, 

 and was very shortly afterwards despatched to join a 

 party of " griffins"* at Poonamallee, who were 

 going up-country to join their respective regiments. 

 Pat sent on his traps the day before, and early the 

 next morning commenced his march, accompanied by 

 his horsekeeper, who had a smattering of English. 

 He had heard of bears and tigers up-country, so he 

 went fully armed and equipped. After he had got a 

 few miles from Madras, he came to a tank, in which 

 he saw two strange black-looking creatures swimming 

 about, that he took to be alligators or hippopotami (he 



* Griffins officers who have not completed their first year's 

 service. 



