146 SPORT IX BENGAL. 



lodge a grain or two of No. 8 shot in that part of a black 

 agriculturist's body which was most prominent as the owner 

 stooped to his weeding. Then followed a sudden start, a 

 scratch of the horny surface of the part affected, a stare 

 round, and then a howl. The man was struck at a dis- 

 tance of about a hundred yards, and the shot just pene- 

 trated the skin, and no more, doing about as much harm 

 as a mosquito bite ; but this incident striking the guileless 

 rustic as a good opportunity for making money, he did not 

 neglect it. First, shouts went up for help, followed by a 

 wild cry for his father and mother, and then some choice 

 abuse for our benefit; and finally, a loud and vehement 

 demand for " compensation for disturbance." As the creature 

 a stout and bearded Ferozi-Mahomedan was in no way 

 hurt, and the mischance had touched the toughest and least 

 honourable part of his body, a rupee would have served as 

 an ample soothing-plaster; but my companion, being urged 

 by his exalted emotions as one of Heaven's elect, foolishly 

 offered five rupees, which, after a consultation between the 

 victim's fingers and his nether end, was indignantly rejected, 

 with threats of a prosecution for assault, grievous hurt, and 

 unlawful assembly. I now humbly suggested the acceptance 

 of two and a-half, with the alternative of a recourse to the 

 court above or below the earth's surface, at his option. 

 The shark having tasted blood, or at least discovered a 

 tiny drop of it on its tail (H/s luckless target), became 

 voracious, and demanded ten ; in other words, sufficient to 

 maintain him and his brood in a merry and distended con- 

 dition for a couple of months. This last offer of compensation 

 was abusively refused, and the man, narrowly escaping what 

 he well deserved, went off to lay a charge of hurt wilfully 

 done him by EL, which charge was in due course heard and 

 dismissed ; and thus the ingenuous rustic lost his temper, 

 his case, and provision for self and family for a whole month, 

 in an attempt at extortion, incited by greed and malice. 

 Being well-known officials of the district, the charge brought 

 against us was proceeded with promptly, and we were in 



