Sporting Notes in the Far East. 95 



proportions, was naturally christened and universally known as 

 "Jumbo." 



Of course Jumbo shot the bear. Who ever doubted it ? Jumbo 

 was peacefully employed fishing, and the bear sauntered down to 

 the river to do likewise ; Jumbo had a ride, and straightway slew 

 his hairy friend ; and returned to his ship enveloped in much glory. 



But now his troubles commenced. Nasty people would keep 

 enquiring where he bought it ? or how big was he ? some even 

 going so far as to say that it was a cub asleep, and that Jumbo 

 had accidentally placed his " cockroach crusher " on it, and 

 squashed it. Truly all these base insinuations were greatly 

 misplaced. 



However, " the strange case of Jumbo and his bear " came to a 

 satisfactory climax during a large Christy Minstrel entertainment, 

 given on board his own ship. 



The stage at the time, was in the possession of an accomplished 

 bluejacket stump orator: who, after haranguing the audience for some 

 time, suddenly electrified his hearers, by bringing the ever present 

 and half broken umbrella, down with half adozen tremendous whacks 

 on the top of his three legged table, and this was followed by the 

 needless assertion, " Gentlemen, (alas ! there were no fair Ladies 

 to grace the scene) I hope I have managed to secure your strict 

 attention. Fur this reason, gentlemen ; I have at length arrived, 

 at the one great burning question of the day. 



