on with the utmost indifference as ever and anon an exhausted wretch loses his hold of the piece of timber, or whatever he may have clung to in his distress, when after having been whirled round in the eddies for a few moments, the waters close over his head for ever,-perhaps not five yards from the apathetic beast who is dignified with the name of a man.

Many of the unfortunate creatures exposed to these perils, during the rainy season, while our regiment was stationed at Dinapore, were saved by one of our officers who lived on the bank of the river. Whenever any of them were seen struggling in the torrent, he instantly went out to their rescue, and brought in as many as his boat would contain. I never shall forget the return made him by a party of three or four whom he had saved. The moment he retired into his house they stole the oars and sails of the boat, by means of which he had assisted them in their hour of need. This was the gratitude of the mild and gentle Hindoo.

At Dinapore, many young men rest a few days when going by water to join their regiments higher up the country. Some curious stories are told of the sporting adventures of these youths. One remarked that he had eaten such a quantity of wild turkeys during his voyage that

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he had got quite tired of them. His hearers stared, knowing that such a bird is unknown in the wild state in India, and they began to think their young friend was drawing rather largely on their credulity. On a subsequent evening, however, while riding on the bank of the river, he pointed out a number of these wild turkeys congregated together. His unbelieving friends had a hearty laugh when they discovered that he had been shooting and eating the vultures, which frequent the river side in great numbers for the purpose of feeding on the dead bodies which are constantly floating down. At a short distance they have very much the appearance of turkeys.

Another party of these hopeful youths had been out shooting and killed a number of paddy birds. When they returned to their boat, they inquired the name of these of their kitmutgar.* He, not understanding English, thought they were inquiring if they were good to eat, and replied at once, "Kooch kam ke neh Sahib;" meaning to say they were good for nothing, not fit to eat. The griffs ordered them to be made into a pie for dinner; and going into the station, told their friends they had had splendid sport; and wishing to show off their knowledge of the

* Servant who attends dinner, &c.

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Hindostanee name of their game, invited them to their boat to partake of the Kooch kam ke neh pie.

Another, while out shooting in a jheel with an officer of ours, happened to espy the long neck of a paddy bird erected above the rushes. At the moment he was asking his bearer what it was, the bird popped its head down again. The bearer pointing out the fact to his master, said in Hindostanee," Goos geha Sahib," which signifies in English, "he has hidden himself." Our griff, however, thought the bearer was informing him of its species, and wishing to shoot such a large and shy bird, neglected firing at a flock of ducks which passed close by him. His companion wondering at this, shouted and pointed them out, thinking they had not been seen. To this our precocious sportsman replied, "Oh hang the ducks, man, here's a goose!"

F

Departure from Dinapore-Station of Ghazeepore-Attah of roses-Duck-shooting-Indian thieves-Showers of fish -Fruits-The pine-apple-Snakes, musk-rats and mosquitoes-Agra-The Taj Mahal-Ruins-Wolves-Famine at Agra-Sporting at Agra-Grand entertainment given by the Rajah of Bhurtpore-Ice establishment.

WE were all heartily sick of Dinapore, when in October, 1838, a sudden order arrived for us to march and relieve the 44th at Ghazeepore. This station is about a hundred miles higher up the country, and is also situated on the bank of the Ganges, but on the opposite side of the river. The women and heavy baggage of the regiment were sent up in country boats under the command of a captain, while the battalion marched by land.

There was very little shooting to be had on the

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road, and altogether this march was one of a very uninteresting description. We arrived at our new station in about twelve days, and were generally much pleased at our removal. At Ghazeepore, which name signifies "Garden of roses," the officers live in detached bungalows, each having large compounds. This is much more pleasant than being quartered in barracks, which is the case at Dinapore. Great quantities of rose-water and Attah-of-rose sare manufactured at this station. We were besieged for the first week by numbers of itinerant dealers in these commodities. The real attah is excessively scarce. They say it requires fourteen thousand flowers to make a single drop. The whole of that which the hawkers assured us was the genuine perfume, and which the officers purchased at an extravagant price, turned out to be nothing but sandal-wood oil. Great numbers of roses are grown all about the neighbourhood, and hundreds of acres of ground are covered by the bushes. Many people who have never been at the station hearing this imagine the sight must be very beautiful. This is not the case; the flowers are all gathered during the night, the moment they burst the bud, so that a person may reside a long time in the station and never see a rose on its parent stem.