behind his chair keeping the flies off, while
he eats,—may fancy that some friend or
some lady sitting opposite, and in his own
mind he may hold some guftoogoo
(conversation). That's why I lay the table for
two, sir."

I had been warned by the gentleman who
permitted Sham to accompany me, that he
was such an invaluable servant,—it was only
politic to let him have his own way, in
trifling matters; and, therefore, instead of
objecting to his proceeding, I applauded his
foresight.

Whilst discussing the stewed duck, which
was excellent,—as was indeed every dish
prepared by Sham, when he had "his own
way;" and while he was standing behind me,
keeping the flies off with a chowrie (a
quantity of long horsehair fastened to a
handle), I talked to him without turning my
head:

"You say you wish to take a gun. Have
yon ever been out shooting?"

"Oh, yes, sir. When my master went up
from Calcutta to Mussoorie and Simlah with
the Governor-General, I went with him.
And I often went out shooting in the Dhoon,
with my master, who was a great sportsman,
sir. And I was out with my master—on the
same elephant—when the Governor-General
shot the tiger."

"What! Did the Governor-General shoot
a tiger?"

"Oh no, sir. But my master and the other
gentleman make him think he did, sir."

"Explain yourself."

"Well, sir, the Governor-General said he
had heard a great deal of tiger-shooting, and
should like to see some, for once. So my
master, who was a very funny gentleman,
went to an officer in the Dhoon,—another
very funny gentleman,—and between them
it was agreed that his lordship should shoot
one tiger. And so they sent out some native
shikarees (huntsmen) and told them to
wound, but not kill, one big tiger in the
jungle, and leave him there. And the native
shikarees did shoot one big tiger in the
jungle, and they came and made a report where
he was lying. Then, next morning, when all
the elephants and gentlemens was ready, and
the Governor-General had his gun in his
hand, they all went to the jungle; and when
they got to the place and heard the tiger
growl very angrily, my master called out:
'There, my lord,—there he is; take your
shot!' and my lord fired his gun, and my
master cried out very loud: 'My lord, you've
hit him!' And my lord, who was very much
confused—not being a sportsman—said,
'Have I?' And all the gentlemens cried
out: 'Yes, my lord!' And then some of the
gentlemens closed round the tiger and killed
him, by firing many bullets at him. And my
lord had the tiger's skin taken off, and it
was sent to England to be make a carpet for
my lord's sitting-room. And for many days
all the gentlemens laughed, and asked of one
another, 'Who shot the tiger?' And the
Governor-General was so happy and so proud,
and wore his head as high as a seesu-tree.
But he had enough of tiger-shooting in that
one tiger; for he was not a sportsman, and
did not like the jolting of the elephant in the
jungle."

My repast ended and the table-cloth
removed, I lighted a cigar and took my
camp-stool once more to the opening of the tent,
when, to my surprise, and somewhat to my
dismay, I found myself besieged by a host
of ryots, cultivators of the soil, each bearing
a present in the shape of a basket of
fruits or vegetables; or a brass dish covered
with almonds, raisins, and native sweet-meats.
These poor creatures, who doubtless
fancied that I was a sahib in authority
(possibly, Sham had told them that I was a
commissioner—a very great man—on a tour
of inspection), prostrated themselves at my
feet, and in the most abject manner imaginable,
craved my favour and protection. I
promised each and every one of them, with
much sincerity, that if ever it lay in my
power to do them a service, they might
depend upon my exerting myself to the
utmost; and then I made a variety of
inquiries, touching their respective ages,
families, circumstances, and prospects, in order
to prove that I had already taken an interest
in them. I then asked them some questions
touching the game in the locality, and was
glad to hear the report made by Sham
confirmed to the letter. I was assured that
the light jungle in the rear of my tents
literally swarmed with black partridges.

It was now nearly time to go out, and in
the course of two hours, I brought down no
less than seven brace, while Sham
distinguished himself by killing five birds. By
the time I returned to my tent, I was
weary, and retired to rest, having previously
given orders that I was to be called at two
A.M., insomuch as at that hour I intended
to resume the march. It is one thing,
however, to retire to rest, but it is another thing
to sleep. What with the croaking of the
frogs in a neighbouring tank, and the buzzing
and biting of the musquitoes in my tent, I
could not close an eye. I lay awake the
whole night, thinking—thinking of a
thousand things, but of home chiefly; and right
glad was I when Sham approached my bed,
holding in one hand a cup of very hot and
strong coffee, and in the other my cigar-case,
while the noise outside, incident on the
striking of the tents and the breaking up of
the little camp, was as the sweetest music to
my ears.