IN CROCODILE VALLEY. 203 



Colt's repeating rifles ; Paradox and other guns, with 

 and without ammunition, are among the offerings 

 of would-be concessionaires. But our Rajpoot Chief 

 dislikes modern fire-arms, and in this view he is 

 strongly supported by his following. " In modern 

 times everything is getting miserly/' says this 

 sturdy representative of the kingly class. " In my 

 time everything was large ; men were large, the 

 guns were large, the charges were large, and sport 

 was sport. Now a puttass (cracker) goes ' pitt ' ; 

 there is no noise, no smoke, even the man behind 

 holding the gun is not thrown down ; is it likely, 

 then, that the animal in front will be killed ? No, 

 no ; give me my father's guns, and I am satisfied." 

 Accordingly the well-meant presents of the gun- 

 makers' best work are stored away with time- 

 pieces and cuckoo clocks, tinsel robes of state, 

 mirrors, and other frippery, only to be brought out 

 on State occasions to parade before the Raja's few 

 European visitors. An attempt was once made 

 to utilise some of the ammunition, and on one 

 occasion several central-fire revolver cartridges 

 were rammed into a match-lock as slugs. When 

 discharged the barrel burst, and the man blowing 

 the match had his ear and the greater portion of his 

 scalp taken off, since when even these " modern 

 slugs " are viewed with suspicion. 



Bonai is a veritable sportsman's paradise. Are 

 you fond of fishing ? The Brahmini river, which 

 flows through the State from north to south, teems 

 with fish of all kinds. Is it a tusker you want ? 

 With the Raja's permission you can shoot over the 



