206 Journal of a voyage from [March, 



so quickly and efficaciously, that unless the game comes very thickly, 

 it is a bad day's sport for those who are permitted only to shoot after 

 him. Dinner is always cooked at his hunting seat and sent out into 

 the jungle for him, and served at noon. Several of his musdhibs 

 (courtiers) partake of the meal with him, and inferior fare is distri- 

 buted to the whole of his attendants. Even down to the saises and 

 grass-cutters no man is allowed to remain hungry. After dinner all 

 indulge in a siesta, and then to the sport again. "Where the jungle 

 is very extensive and not well enclosed, and the efforts of the horse- 

 men are baffled by the game doubling round them, it is not unusual 

 on a windy day to set fire to it. This is a sight to be witnessed. 

 The sport is very exciting while it lasts, but the pauses during the 

 time spent by the beaters in driving the game towards the ambus- 

 cades are tedious. The Nawab and his minister frequently occupy 

 these intervals in reading the Koran. 



The Nawab's hunting seats are mere temporary hamlets, the sides 

 of which are formed of the kana reed, and the roofs thatched over 

 with grass. A large enclosure is set apart for the Nawab himself, 

 which is surrounded with a strong and high fence of thejhau, making 

 it quite private. This enclosure varies from two to three hundred 

 yards square ; at different angles of it are a place for his daftar- 

 khdnd or secretaries, a place for his cook-room, and a place for his 

 huntsmen or shikaris. He has sometimes an under-room attached to 

 his own bungalow in the rear. In front of the bungalow is a rude 

 chabutra, raised from the ground about two feet, on mud pillars, and 

 covered with an awning or canopy of cloth under which he holds his 

 darbdr and receives the reports of shikaris, who are sent out in all 

 directions to bring tidings of game. In front of the chabutra his 

 horses are picketed. His minister and two or three others of the 

 most consideration about him have separate hamlets prepared for 

 them, but the rest of his followers rough it in the open air. Canvas 

 tents are very little used even by the wealthier classes. 



On the 28th we arrived opposite to Mirpur ; estimated distance by 

 the river 10 kos. As we approached the end of our day's journey the 

 river became broader. There were still fewer tracts of jungle to-day, 

 and the country rich and well cultivated, with many substantial-look- 

 ing villages on either side. 



March the 1st. We arrived at Makhanbeld, the ghat opposite to 

 the town of Uch $ estimated distance by the river 16 kos. 



The river increased to-day to a fine broad stream ; it was joined by 

 an inlet from the Chindb river soon after we left Mirpur, and for the 



