After a very pleasant evening, I retired to a comfortable cot, which my host ordered to be prepared for me; and next morning Mr. Sympkin, who was engaged on some special business in the district, left us after breakfast to attend to his duties and proceed to his cuchery tent, around which were assembled horses and ponies gaily caparisoned, and a concourse of native zumeendars, with their attendants, hosts of villagers, witnesses, and the various native functionaries in the judge’s suite, who in India bear the collective appellation of the “omlah.”
At tiffin he joined us, as full of spirits as a boy just let out of school, rubbing his hands in a gleeful way, and asked me if I was disposed for a day’s shooting, for if so, he should be happy to show me some excellent sport, the neighbourhood abounding in game. I need hardly say that I was not backward in accepting his offer.
The day following was a most propitious one for sport, the air clear and bracing, and the sun, as is the case in this latitude and season, possessed of little power. Breakfast over, the judge ordered his gun to be laid on the table, and at the same time asked me how I was provided in that way. I told him I was possessed of a gun, but I dared say he would not deem it a first-rate piece of ordnance.
“Allow me to look at it,” said he; “I’ll send a man to your tent for it;” and with this he despatched a servant to my routee.
The judge clicked my locks, turned the piece about, took a peep at the muzzles, which were in rather fine order for cutting wadding, in the absence of the instrument usually employed for that purpose, shook his head, and returned it to me.
“Come,” said he, “I think we can set you up with a better piece than that for the day; though,” added he, archly, “it appears to have seen a little service too;” and so saying, he put together a splendid Joe Manton, the locks of which spoke eloquently as he played them off, and he placed it in my hands. “Have you ever shot off an elephant?”
“Never, sir,” said I, “though I have ridden upon one more than once.”
“Well, then, you must make your first essay to-day; it is no easy matter; you must allow for the rise and fall of the animal, and take care you don’t bag any of the black fellows alongside of you.”
I laughingly assured him I would endeavour to avoid that mistake.
“Come along, then,” said he; “I think we are now ready.”