7 2 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
process effected a sudden change in his appear¬ 
ance ; the ash - smeared faky became a really 
handsome man when divested of his holy 
colouring. I had presented him upon one 
occasion with a few rupees to beautify his 
church, and he became more grateful than a 
member of the Established Church would have 
been under similar circumstances. He exhibited 
his gratitude by a voluntary exhibition of his 
powers as an acrobat, leaping to a great height, 
and turning somersaults, for which performance 
his dress was admirably adapted, as he had 
nothing on but ashes. He then walked upon his 
hands, head downwards, doubled himself together 
with his arms beneath his legs, and hopped like 
a frog; until he wound up the entertainment 
by balancing himself upon his nose on the hard 
ground — a feat that would have been highly 
remunerative at the close of a charity sermon in 
London. 
Our “ Bishop ” was of considerable service 
during a memorable hunt. I had wounded a very 
fine black-buck, which made off across the open 
country. Although it had a long start, I had 
slipped the dog Cabre immediately, and we had a 
glorious chase straight across the level ground, 
the young wheat being about 8 inches high. 
I was on a fast elephant, therefore we 
managed to keep the animals in view. All the 
villagers turned out to see the fun; the natives 
who were travelling along the road put down 
