246 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



and was sincerely sorry at our want of luck, mainly due, I 

 think, to the great scarcity of water, and perhaps, too, in 

 some degree to the noisy and festive proceedings of my native 

 companions, who must have highly perfumed a considerable 

 tract of country around their " machans " that day, and left 

 behind a scent which must have kept that neighbourhood free 

 from wild animals till the next fall of rain. 



Subsequently, while enjoying good sport in the south of 

 the same district, we were inveigled ten miles away from 

 our camp by the positive assurance of another pseudo-Rajah, 

 of that ilk, of the splendid success which must infallibly 

 attend a gigantic drive over the Dalma hill, to be arranged 

 under his auspices, with the aid of ten thousand beaters, 

 collected by him specially for that purpose. In spite of expe- 

 rience, and contrary to the dictates of our better judgment, 

 we fell a prey to the Zameendar's blandishments, hoping to 

 slay the mighty " gour," which is known to roam over that 

 high hill. The tempter, a young and chubby individual, 

 dressed in a purple silk coat, green and gold satin trousers, 

 and a blue velvet cap, trimmed with tawdry gold tinsel to 

 resemble a royal crown, gave us his solemn word of honour 

 (or rather its vernacular equivalent) that his arrangements 

 were so perfect and extensive, that, if we would but meet 

 him at the foot of Dalma on the morning of the next day, 

 we might rely on grand sport. Whether it was the innocent 

 chubbiness of our inviter, the tinsel crown upon his well-oiled 

 head, or a kindred feeling to that which induces a man to 

 lead a forlorn hope, with the chances twenty to one against 

 his ever coming alive out of it, we agreed (and of course duly 

 repented) to meet him at the appointed time and spot. 



Our ride to the rendezvous was a very enjoyable one, the 

 weather being cool for March, the scenery along the base of 

 the hills very pretty, and the woods ablaze with wild flowers 

 of the most brilliant hues, the " palas "' (both tree and creeper) 

 not the least splendid and striking. We arrived on our 

 ground a little before the Zameendar, from whom we received 

 a cordial greeting, but our hearts failed us at the sight of 



