On horses fleet as mountain deer, All Nuggur's hunting sons were here, Then shook the canes asunder riven, But swifter yet that boar did fly, The distance lessens-on, ye few! He turns-he charges-now, ye brave! Who wish in blood your spears to bathe, Ride, W, ride! or nought can save From J's hand the Dantvallah. Few met when that great boar was slain, But backwards glance along the plain, There Tinkers ride with tightened rein, Or sprawling on their backs with pain, Blaspheme and swear right lustily. THE ORIENTAL SPORTING MAGAZINE. No. 20.-JUNE, 1833. SIR, THE MARRIED HOG HUNTER. Any one who has ever seen Valentine ride across country will never forget him; a better or keener sportsman never breathed. I fancy I can still see him dashing at the " grey and slashing boar," the admiration of his fellow hunters, and the chosen protégé of old Duttoo. His convivial talents, too, were not to be overlooked-a merry laugh, a good voice, and stowage for about a dozen of beer per diem, entitled him to the enviable distinction of being called "a d-d good fellow" by all who knew him. His ardour in the field was not to be exceeded; he was ever the first in his saddle and the last to quit it; he minded not the starting of a rib or the fracture of a collar bone; and "even "spills" and "falls were unto him as a drink offering." But alas, he at last got one he could not recover; to make a long story short, he fell in love-yes, "by the Lord Harry," a hog-hunter fell in love!!! As soon as this devil had taken possession of him, a serious change was observed in our friend's manners and habits; he was convicted on the most satisfactory authority of having purchased and taken into wear a pair of braces, and was detected (with what sorrow do I relate it!) drinking tea at six in the evening. This last mentioned atrocity called down upon him the just indignation of all his friends, and he was strongly remonstrated with on his conduct by several members of the Hunt, deputed for that purpose. To our horror, however, he justified his proceeding, and talked of “domestic felicity," "tender affection, "reciprocal ties," "the blessing of offspring," &c., &c.; and was incontinently dubbed "Tinker" by his advisers, and left to take his own course, with mingled feelings of pity and contempt. In a short time afterwards the departure of Valentine and his blooming bride was duly announced in the papers, as going to some place or other to pass the honeymoon. As married men generally manage to pick up a portion of the "loaves and fishes" of this world, our friend was inducted into an appointment of considerable value, and did not return to the station where he had once been the sportsman's model and the grey boar's terror. We corresponded pretty regularly at first together; my letters generally found silence, never attempting to open his lips save when ordered to do something by his helpmate); and I fancy the lady took me for little better than a "beast of the field," when I incautiously acknowledged that I had never read a novel styled "Sentimentality," in six volumes, by Miss Emmelina Languish. In this manner the day passed, till to my great relief dinner was announced; the children, shouting and yelling, were forcibly removed and incarcerated in their respective dens, and we adjourned to the dining-room. To my infinite surprise, the man of many bottles, the adorer of Hodgson," had cut the connection, and only drank plain water after dinner; and when I had discussed a bottle of claret (Valentine still sticking to the "pawnee"), I proposed the propriety of having a look at the stud, and accordingly out we touching on the noble sport of hog-hunting, and his on the comfortable consolations of a married life. These expressions, however, in a few months became much colder, and he ceased in about half a year even to write to me. I had a shrewd guess as to the reason, and determined to pay my mar. tyred friend a visit the first opportunity I had. A long period intervened, however, before I could put this into execution, and it was after a lapse of three years, whilst passing through the district he resided in, that I started to see him. On my arrival I was warmly received by my friend; but oh, how changed was he to what I last saw him! His full, ruddy cheeks were sunk in; the eye that of yore beamed with merriment now shot a melancholy glance (like a sheepstealer's going to execution) over his emaciated and sallow jaws; the strong and bony hand that was wont to compress one's fingers like a vice, was now as soft and flabby as a lump of dough; and the legs which once appeared part of the saddle, were now "sorry sticks" indeed. I was so much astonished and grieved at his appearance, that I could merely mutter something about "happiness of seeing him again," &c., &c., as he led me into the house, where I was introduced to the mistress of the mansion and three squalling children. One of them (who rejoiced in the name of Tommy) I was particularly desired to observe, as his mother thought him very like Lord Byron. I was moreover compelled to declare (though much. against my conscience) that the baby's nose and eyes were just like papa's, when forsooth, they possessed no more expression than an apple dumpling. Being no "peacock," I was somewhat at a loss to keep up the conversation I was most cruelly afflicted (as Valentine kept a most pro- by his misery; but luckily cast went. The first object that struck me on entering the stable was his old hunter, now condemned (as he informed me) to drag a nondescript "shay." I stopped for an instant to caress mine old acquaintance," and when so employed remarked a spear stained with blood in the corner of the stall. I turned to my friend, and said, "So, Valentine, you have not altogether forgot good old times, I see." Would to heaven I had never made the observation, for it waked the thoughts of "other days;" his colour came and went alternately; he with difficulty stammered out ""Tis the blood of the boar we killed together on the banks of the Seena "-and then the feelings he had been so long labouring to suppress entirely overcame him, and he covered his face with his hands and sobbed like a child. having ing my eyes round the place, discovered an object on which to vent my annoyance in the person of a "ghorawalla," who (amused doubtless by the novelty of the scene going on) was grinning from ear to ear, like a Cheshire cat; on this devoted rascal therefore did I empty the vial of mine indignation, and soon cooled his exuberant flow of spirits by kicking him till his nose bled. I then turned to my friend, who by this time had somewhat regained his composure, and, ordered my horse to be got ready, took his arm and walked away; he spoke not for some minutes, when he suddenly stopped and said, "You see, Walter, the case I am in; for the last three years have I been the most miserable devil on the face of the earth. I had not been spliced six months, when I discovered I was never intended for a marrying man, and that the 'boar, the mighty boar' still held the uppermost place in my heart. All that I have had to console me is the recollection of former days, counterbalanced at the same time by the damning reflection that, had I taken the advice given me when I was one of you, I might still have been happy, and not the wretched outcast I now am. Should you ever feel inclined to take the same step, remember me. Drink like a fish, gamble, give 15 per cent. your bonds to Cursetjee Monackjee; do them all at once if you like-but don't marry. Should they lay you in irons in Bombay gaol, you are still more at liberty on 6 than I can ever be. They may hang you, but they can never make you a Tinker' unless by your conduct you deserve the designation. Stick to hog-hunting -I would sooner have the feelings I had on the hill side, when a jolly cadet, with one horse, a sharp spear, and a light heart, than be a Major-General on full staff pay, and married to the queen of Sheba; but here comes master Tommy to tell me his mother wants me. God bless you, old fellow, and when you next come within poking distance of the boar of the sounder,' with six tiptop sawyers behind youOh think then of him who, if wishes held sway, Would have rode by your side on that fortunate day.' As Valentine said this, the voice of little Tommy became distinctly audible, singing out, "Mamma, papa want," and grasping my hand fervently, which pressure was as warmly returned, Valentine hurried off. I leapt instantly on my horse, and rode out of the compound as if the devil was after me. I felt a choking sensation in my throat, as I thought of the broken-hearted hunter, but it was not till I had " gruelled" my beast to a standstill, by a five mile. split across country (during the course of which I had two spills), that, throwing the reins on his neck, I opened my mouth, and lifting up my hands, exclaimed in a loud voice—" Well, if I do marry I will; but if I do I'm d-d." Nuggur, June 1st, 1833. REMINISCENCES OF THE FANCY. SIR, SCREW. belle France" and a denizen of our good city of Paris. Most grateful are my recollections of that most charming of all abodes! 2 D The philosopher, the connoisseur, the politician, or the man of pleasure, find there an ample field for the exercise of the ruling passion. Being myself a sort of compound of the four, I diversified my movements according to the influence which happened to take command for the day, and found myself not unrewarded. The powerful and bold elequence of a Manuel would one day keep me an immoveable auditor in the Chamber of Debates -the Savans would have their turn-the Louvre receive its due -and not having the fear of scandal before my eyes, Frescati, "le grand salon," and those of Germancey and her sisterhood received their full allowance of my countenance. Further than this so determined was I to see French fancy, that in the very teeth of the announcement in the guide to Paris that "this place is only frequented by the veriest canaille, and sometimes by a few low Englishmen," I made it a point to visit "Le Theatre des Combats." I do not chronicle this occurrence to have it supposed that my penchant led me frequently to the same place. I visited it but once, when my humour being the study of mankind, I thought to attain my end through man in the circles of Fancy; and by comparing the manly courage and emprize which in those days distinguished the English ring, and the staunchness which marked its kennel, with similar scenes abroad, to be able to judge whether they "manage these things better in France." I cannot say that the result put me out of conceit of things, as I had seen them done at home, for though there was great display of courage on the part of the quadruped performers, the want of scientific management, did and the ultra interference of the conductors of the sport, entirely destroyed its spirit, and rendered it a rather disgusting spectacle than otherwise. But I will endeavour to give a hasty sketch of what I saw. The theatre itself is an enclosed square of considerable size, with covered galleries on each face for spectators, beneath which are the cages, or dens, of the different animals to be exhibited; the dogs produced were generally a large description of mastiff, brought, I believe, from the Pyrenees, with a large assortment of setters, lurchers, and "curs of low degree." The day's work commenced by slipping two mastiffs from opposite angles of the enclosure; and from the roselute style in which they went to work I began to anticipate something like sport, and had the animals been left to themselves no doubt a good fight would have been the result; but they had hardly closed when a dozen assistants rushed in and parted them. The other sport consisted in bull, bear, wolf, boar, and jackass baiting if such an exhibition deserves the name-I would rather call it worrying, for the poor animal never had a fair chance. A fine looking bull was first fixed to the ring, and for ten minutes tormented and excited by the yelping and snapping of a dozen curs; then a large mastiff was slipped, and another and another in quick succession, without taking off the first, so that in a few minutes eight or ten of these formidable animals were at work together; and though out of these one or two paid dearly for their temerity, numbers soon decided the contest, and the unhappy bull was rolled to earth. It would be a fine sight in the hunting field to sce so noble a brute thus pulled down, but I could not join my applause |