a he held-not a trident, nor pitchfork, but, if possible, a dirty scrap of paper. And on it was inscribed-what? not the Lord's prayer backwards-no, nor do I know to this day what it was, for it was penned in a cruel queer fist. Thus much I deciphered. "The dogs will meet this afternoon at some hour or other, at some Tomb or other." Where this Tomb was or is I have no idea, for I saw nothing of it. By this time. I had gained courage enough, not only to look my sable friend, without fear, in the face, but also to put some questions to him. He was apparently a man of some information; he told me he was head coota walla to the Nuggur pack, and gave me more intelligence as to the time and place of throwing off than I could get out of the circular. Bhooatcha, says I, the Nuggur pack-well, I had heard a great deal about it, and I wished to know more of it, so I determined upon knowing the spot. At half-past four precisely (according to Cock-eye, mind you) my prancing Rosinante was brought to the door. Europe tops I had none, my cords were dusty, and my toggery altogether out of order, to go before the observation of the knowing ones. I made up my mind to start an emblem of innocence, and so did my nag, for he stood with one foot by at least half an inch off the ground, I suppose to avoid crushing some harmless reptile that might be lurking there. nevertheless mounted, and, after riding less than half a mile, my ears were saluted by that yelling so beautifully described by a writer in the O. S. M., who subscribes himself Nosing Tom; not many more paces brought me up with the far-famed pack. In about three minutes more we came I to a place which I thought smelt plaguily strong of assafœtida, and here a small jockeylooking personage met us at a hand gallop, who I afterwards discovered was one of the whippers-in; according to his account Reynard had gone off well to the right. The huntsman gave a knowing nod, without uttering a syllable, three whippers-in cracked their castigating implements at once, and in less than no time, we were off, Lord knows how fast. Now, Mr. Editor, I am not a man of much observation, nor am I given to criticising; but eyes and ears are given to us to see and hear with, and mine had damned hard work of it that afternoon; for what with the yelling of the riders, in number from eighteen to twenty, and the perfect mixture of dogs and horses, the only thing that puzzles me is that the dogs ran at all; many of them actually stopped and turned round when well on the scent, thinking the huntsmen were speaking to them. However, they went away at a cruel sharp pace; and seemed to take rather more interest in it than those gents who rode in among them shouting and hallooing, as if they were beating a hog out of a sugarcane field. One, in particular, could not escape observation; he had apparently just turned out of a band box. He wore, I should think from the appearance of it, one of N. T.'s helmets, a long blue-striped coat, cords, and top-boots, all of which articles appeared to have very lately made their escape out of a Europe tin case. He, I remarked, had just ridden over one dog, which took devilish good care to expose him to the field at large, not only by a hideous yell, but, alas! by a hop and go not one motion, which I firmly believe was the result of a broken leg. Soon after this we had a short check, which the helmetheaded gent was quite ignorant of, for, although he was galloping, he was to be seen very contentedly trotting in the midst. of the pack, ever and anon look ing down on either side-it struck me at his top boots-nor did he discover they were at fault until two or three more had suffered. He, however, was not the only one. Some were amusing themselves by riding against one another, and attending to any thing but the run: among these, some were adorned with green baize coats. I wonder what the above-mentioned sporting characters go out with the dogs at all for; Lord knows, and they ought to know that they can all gallop their horses to their heart's content, either along the roads in Camp, or across the country, without going out to spoil the sport of those who really enjoy it. But I am digressing. We The scent was again very prettily picked up, and away we went at the same merry pace. had now been running for upwards of twenty minutes with only one short check, and that in my humble opinion not the fault of the dogs. The fox was now viewed by the huntsmen, &c., SIR, though not by the pack, when, to my utter astonishment, no sooner did he with the helmet and two or three others twig him, than they crammed in their rowels, shot ahead, and seemed to all intents and purposes themselves in the scent. As luck would have it, a nullah concealed the game for another ten minutes, when it was beautifully run into, after as brisk a sport as ever I wished to see in half an hour. The bellows of the cattle and gory spurs of the riders gave one some idea of the rate we had been going at. So much for the run. I went home contented, and on the whole much pleased with the Nuggur pack. With all due deference to the master of the ceremonies, the mange seems to have crept in among them, and they do not run together so well as one might wish. Time and trouble will, however, rectify these errors I hope; as it was, they exceeded my expectations, and gave me infinite satisfaction. They must be a source of great amusement at an out-station, or rather a large station, like Nuggur, especially to the Griff, and that they may continue to afford as good sport every day they meet, is the sincere wish of humble servant, LONG ROAD MATCH. I think the following long road match, which beats the MajorGeneral hollow, is hardly equalled in the annals of Indian Sporting. If you deem it worthy of a place in your valuable Magazine, by inserting it you will oblige Your obedient servant, LONG. your STRAP. The match was made between Mr. O.'s white horse against any horse in Mr. J.'s stable, to be run on the 19th of Sept., the distance to Uscottah and back, which is thirty miles. From various causes Mr. J.'s stud became incapacitated, with the exception of one, a bay galloway standing 13h. 23in., which Mr. J. determined running rather to prevent a disappointment than from any hope of winning. They started at 8 minutes past 5 a.m., reached the Fort gate at Uscottah, and returned to Ulsoor bridge Artillery lines, the galloway running in at 46 minutes past 6, performing the distance in one hour and 38 minutes. The little horse came in quite fresh, and certainly appeared able to have gone ten miles further at the same pace. The grey was beaten by 100 yards. He has been known for some time to be one of the best bottomed horses in India; he is a stud bred horse, with a good deal of Arab blood. The galloway is a slight made animal, with a goodish quarter, and remarkably high bred; he was always supposed to be a weed till this trial of bottom, which proves the old proverb, "there are as good fish in the sea as e'er came out o' it." Bangalore, Nov. 20th, 1830. SONG. BY RICHARD NORMAN, EARTH STOPPER TO THE LATE MR. MEYNELL. TUNE-Ballinamora Ora. This morning at work, sowing out of my hopper, The Hounds of Quornden for me. If we head him he'll damn us-a view! Tallyho! The hounds, &c. From Bill's den they come and to Enderby go, The first in the burst, see yonder comes Maynard, The lads, &c. See, funking his soul out, Sir Featherstonhaugh, The lads, &c. Next Dick Knight and Smith Asheton we spy in the van, Now, Egmont," says Asheton; "Now, Contract," says Dick, The lads, &c. Look-smack at a yawner rides Winchilsea's Peer; So sure to be thrown upon Pyramid's ear; The lads, &c. There Villiers, Bligh, Forester, Cholm'ley, and all, The lads, &c. Then see the Prince Orleans, who's à la distance, The lads, &c. Now, sobbing on Monarch, comes jolly Tom Blower, The lads, &c. Next, half up the hill, stops heavy Debrew, The lads, &c. Tom Grosvenor and Bob now most desp'rately flag, The lads, &c. Next vaulting Tom Graham, on a horse, taking whim, The lads, &c. See next, with a star on, there's Bassador Gordon, VOL. II. The lads, &c. G Then whence these three goose-drivers all in a row, The lads, &c. Then far in the rear observe Saville, forlorn, The lads, &c. Next a tickle-heel Sportsman, called Heyrick the black, The lads, &c. Then last in the cluster see Wor'ster and Muster ; The lads, &c. But Bob Lee, where's he, with woodfisted Cox? They'll tell you they've stopped, having viewed the run fox; Now, with "ware poison"-"ware poison "-hear Conyers Jack, Both rating, and whooping, to check the staunch pack. The lads, &c. (The tune changes to the Duke of York's March.) Now, cheering all nature, Squire Meynell we spy, Chorus. See, see them all spread, Tallyho! the hounds in full view, tallyho! No horse can with them live; Hark away! hark away! they to Enderby go. Then as we trudge home we pass Master Swaddle, Whipping Pastime before him, and carrying the saddle; "Good people," says he, "I'm afraid she will die, Though I've bled her myself in her mouth and her thigh." "Now let's to this ale-house," says Dick, "for a while, Toast happiness, health, and great sport to the Squire." 1 |