THE FALCON AND THE CROWS. 223 



whole village turned out to see the cause of the uproar. 

 When it was known that I had killed a large tiger, the 

 crowd rejoiced as if their deadliest foe had been subdued. 

 We left the tiger outside of the house as we sat down to 

 breakfast, I related the story of the night. Mr. Barrill 

 informed that he had not enjoyed a wink of sleep and 

 that he had distinctly heard the report of my rifle. The 

 escape of the tigress was regreted. However, that day 

 the patriarch gave a grand open air feast* in honor of the 

 tiger's death and despite the refusal of the Hindoos to 

 eat in company with us, we had a merry time. The 

 splendid skin of the slain monster was added to our packs. 

 While in this region, we enjoyed a taste of that rare 

 sport, called falconry. It is well known that the crow is 

 a kind of sacred bird among the Hindoos. He is fed at 

 certain seasons with boiled rice and other delicacies. This 

 treatment causes the crow to be very bold and impertinent. 

 Occasionally we came upon large flocks of these birds, 

 and on silencing one of them with shot, they evinced a 

 determination to assail us, and we were glad to get out 

 of the way as spon as possible. One day, the Parsees had 

 left a half-plucked chicken, preparing for supper, within 

 sight .of a sentinel crow. In a moment, the fowl was 

 pounced upon, and carried off. On one side, all the com- 

 rades of the daring robber flocked together to share the 

 spoil. On the other side, out rushed the Parsees, followed 



