35 



then brought, which the bird loads with coarse grains of pow- 

 der, one bj one, or more commonly with small balls of powder 

 made up for the purpose ; it next seizes and skilfully uses a 

 small ramrod, and then takes a lighted match from its master, 

 which it applies to the touch-hole. All this we have witnessed 

 in common with most persons who have resided in or even 

 visited India ; and we have seen the little bird apply the 

 match five or six times successively before the powder ignited, 

 which it finally did with a report loud enough to alarm all 

 the crows in the neighbourhood, while the little baya remained 

 perched on the gun, apparently quite elated with its perform- 

 ance." 



