went wrong.

I learnt a lesson, and | beaming with good-hearted smiles. She never committed such a mistake again. was arrayed in a fair white cambric The game we have just eaten I shot this garment, with a frill round the neck morning, for I always go out with my but otherwise fashioned with mediæval gun for an hour or so before my bath simplicity, which adjusted itself to the and breakfast, rest during the day, have undulations of her buxom person with a good dinner at five, and push on dur- unconscious fidelity. Her hair was ing the evening and night to the next gathered into a little knot the size of an bungalow." This was the common way orange, and her feet were cased in of performing a journey according to easy canvas slippers. The good old the old style. In still more ancient souls looked in fact as if they were times, when roads were often mere about to proceed to bed rather than to tracks, our great grandsires were car- dinner. "Ah, Dan!" cried she to her ried in state in palanquins with flashing husband as I approached, "did ye evur torches and choirs of chanting bearers see the like of this now? Just look at posted in relays. Business was con- me coat and me collar! Faith, it's a ducted by night, and cowrie or cavady great travellur ye are entirely, Mr. cases laden with the contents of the Dandy, if that's the way ye dress for larder, storeroom, and cellar, were bal- dinner at a dawk bungalow. Ah well, anced on the shoulders of lusty coolies nevur mind, sure the soup's ready, and who trotted on ahead of the traveller. collar or no collar, bedad! I've no doubt ye're ready for't. Come on there, Dan." The colonel obeyed, and a most pleasant little meal we had.

Talking of wayside hospitality reminds me of another incident which happened in the days of my bright green "griffinage," and may perhaps be amusing. I arrived one afternoon at the Chickalore bungalow, and soon learnt from my servants that some kind friends, Colonel and Mrs. O'Rafferty of the Pallampore Light Infantry, were in possession of part of the premises. As soon as Mrs. O'R's ayah had discovered to her mistress the rank, name, and regiment of the new comer, I received a slip of paper containing these words:

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But by far the most characteristic entertainment of the time of which I speak was the burra khana. This certainly deserves the passing tribute of a sketch. Let us therefore accept the invitation we have received from Major General McGowlie (commanding the division) and Mrs. McGowlie, and see how the hospitalities of the old régime were dispensed.

we

Soon after seven o'clock P.M. Delighted to hear it's yourself, and drive up to the bungalow in our bullocknot a stranger that's come. Will you carriage, and are received at the door just join us? We dine at four, but by Captain Flitter, the general's son-inbring your own beer for we've run law and aide-de-camp. We enter the short. Yours, etc., KATHLEEN O'RAF- drawing-room, and pause, after exFERTY. P.S. You'll come in your changing salutations all round, to take comfortable things of course. I ac- in the scene. The room is well furcepted with much pleasure, but not nished with guests, the thermometer quite understanding the postscript, and being as yet by no means indifferent as to my personal appearance, I brushed up and dressed myself as best I could in the circumstances. On proceeding to the other side of the bungalow I found the jovial old colonel sitting in the verandah in his shirt-sleeves and a roomy pair of pyjamas, with his anteprandial glass of sherry and bitters at his elbow, while Kathleen, his wife, stood in the doorway to receive me

indicates 92°, and our high-collared mess-jackets are tightly buttoned up. But what of that? The punkah is waving steadily, and nobody thinks of the heat. Young Mr. Lisper, of the Light Company of the Queen's Hundred and Fifty-First, is the buck of the party; observe his ambrosial curls and the jaunty twist of hair that adorns each temple. He is, of course, cleanly shaven, as we all are, for Crimean experiences have yet to bring about the

beard and moustache movement. His | yet been exported to India. He is for short-waisted shell-jacket clings like the moment rather put out because wax to his slim figure, and you wonder Lisper has appropriated the fair Luhow on earth he contrived to get into cinda; for Mrs. Norrice and her brood his sleeves. His white ducks are are in England, and his Reverence immoulded tightly as far as the knee, at proves the shining hour, while his freewhich point they are set free in a nau- dom lasts, with mild Platonisms. But tical manner, falling with a small slit in he finds consolation anon in devoting the side-seam so completely over his himself to Mrs. Softwill, a comely and foot that you can only catch an inch of somewhat volatile young matron, whose his toe with your naked eye. He is elderly husband is absent on duty with hanging expressively over the chair in drafts. We have just had time to take which the lovely Miss Lucinda McGow- these notes when a magnificent ormolu lie, the last importation by the good clock, from beneath a great glass shade, ship Renown, and the belle of our sta- chimes half past seven, and Eleazar, tion, is gracefully posed. Her skirt of the stout major-domo of the McGowlie snowy muslin is garnished with green household (a native Christian) enters beetle-wings; she wears long ringlets, with some dignity and announces that and has acquired the languishing eye "dinner is ready upon the table." It encouraged by the "Book of Beauty." is a moment of extreme anxiety. The She has a pretty foot, which her rather laws of precedence must be observed to short draperies reveal liberally. Lis- the last tittle, or battle, murder, and per's eyes are fixed upon it; it is set off sudden death may be the result. Was by a pale pink silk stocking, and a black not poor Captain Scatterly shot by satin slipper secured by riband-sandals Major Gusher, not so very long ago half an inch wide. She wears mittens, either, in the mango grove behind of course, and long earrings; a broad "Dustagir's durgah" for taking in Mrs. sash of pink riband is tied at the back Dovetail, the lady allotted to him, of her gown, and bows of the same be- Major G., or at least on account of comdeck her pretty shoulders. She uses plications which arose out of that unher fan coquettishly, and has lately happy mistake? Have a care then lest read (unknown to her mother) Lord any misunderstanding of the kind be Byron's beautiful poems with much created this evening! In five minutes appreciation. The general is tall and the arrangements are completed by portly, measuring fifty-seven round his Captain Flitter (exactly according to waist-belt. He is florid, and as hard our respective ranks in the civil and as iron. His closely shaven lips are military lists, and according to the occasionally given to anathematism, for positions to which the ladies are enat this epoch in Indian history all in titled by virtue of their husbands' authority with soldiers under them are places in those calendars), and we prone to violent invectives, as we of march in to dinner. The general places course know, but he passes for a pleas- Mrs. Prayter on his right, and Mr. ant, hospitable old fellow when off Prayter, our jovial judge, takes the duty. He has just extracted a frag-place of honor on the side of his ment of naughty gossip (they call it hostess. On the left of our host sits gup) from wicked old Mrs. Prayter, and Mrs. Softwill, and the vacant chair on they are laughing at it together purple the other side of Mrs. McGowlie is in the face. You think that there will occupied by Dr. O'Flirty, our principal be a fit of apoplexy directly, but there is medical officer, a bachelor and a humornot; at least not yet. Padre Norrice, ist. The remainder of the guests seat our chaplain, is of course here; a hand- themselves as they please, for the some man is he, and a favorite among the ladies, with no inconveniently extreme views of any kind. Such things indeed, even if invented, have not as

practice of allotting places is as yet unknown. Eighteen or twenty people having settled themselves, Padre Norrice upholds the dignity of his office by

a short discourse touching the sanctifi- | this juncture the gun fires (eight P.M.), cation to our uses of the good things of every man consults and corrects his this world now spread before us, and then the cover is removed from the colossal soup-tureen in front of the lady of the house. Mr. Prayter of course saves her the trouble of helping it, and business begins.

chronometer, and we know that the first half hour of the banquet has passed. The creaming sweet champagne of the period is now introduced and poured into long attenuated glasses, which in the future are to suggest to The long delay, we find, has had a the artist in glassware delicate specimen cooling effect on the soup, but we care vases meet for single blooms of choice not, for living under punkahs as we do roses. The wine is specially strong to we are accustomed to such things. stand our climate, and it is adminisNow look at the table. What a quan- tered with a generous hand. How is it tity of food to be sure! Large covered cooled? Why, by saltpetre in a swing, dishes, like a fleet of ancient triremes, a process which the native cooler are moored at close intervals along each thoroughly understands. The patient side of the table, giving it the appear- creature begins early, and succeeds in ance of a silversmith's shop window. getting the wines entrusted to his care One of the newly introduced epergnes pleasantly cold, at all events, by the presented to the general on his time they are wanted. Ice is destined, giving up the command of the Rampoor | however, to improve him off the face of Light Infantry, the crack native corps the Anglo-Indian establishment, and of the presidency to which he belongs his craft will then die with him. It is fills the centre of the table. It is of course to be expected now that the embellished by a posy of exuberant strings of the guests' tongues will be dimensions, the handiwork of the native considerably relaxed. The general is in gardener, and a thing of beauty accord- his glory. He takes wine steadily with ing to the light which is in him; lovely each man of the party without the hibiscus, poinsettia, amaranthus, single smallest suspicion of heeltaps. His zinnia, etc., all jammed tightly together. head is made of laminated steel. BeAnd we admire his taste, for only a very yond waxing loquacious, therefore, and few bother their heads in these days exhibiting increased freedom in the about their flower-gardens, and agri- observations he makes and the stories horticultural societies, Wardian cases, he tells, he is as sober as when he sat and skilled gardeners from Kew have down. The ladies on either side of him yet to come. Two great dishes are now take care to keep him up to concertbrought in; one is placed before Cap- pitch; for, like their fellows in other tain Flitter, the other before little callings, men of war are singularly susBratty, a useful subaltern of Lisper's ceptible to the deftly cloaked flatteries regiment, carving being the special of woman. Mrs. Prayter calls him, province of the juniors. No time is "Genny, dear," and ever and anon wasted over "kickshaws," as the gen- strikes him with her fan to indicate her eral has it, and after the hot tinned disapprobation of sundry trespasses besalmon and tinned lobster-sauce, we yond the confines of Tom Tiddler's straightway proceed to attack the solids. ground, "provoking the caper which Of these there is enough and to spare; she seems to chide," shameful old boiled turkey at one end, a roast saddle thing! Lisper continues to improve at the other, flanked by (good old term his ground with the enchanting Lulong since deceased) boiled ham, roast cinda; they converse in undertones, beef, and boiled fowls on one side, roast and she is in far too romantic condition ducks, boiled leg of mutton, and tongue to partake of food. O'Flirty, the rascal on the other. Vegetables galore accom- (as he always does), brings the warm pany these viands, both those which blood into the still fair cheek of Mrs. come to us from Europe in tin cases, McGowlie, and Prayter's reminiscences and the produce of the country. At of "first spears," tigers, bears, ser

When we wake in the morning with splitting headaches, and the dire symptoms which accompany injudicious indulgence in those infernal" promotion nuts," we are not ashamed, for 'tis our custom so to suffer after experiencing the delights of a burra khana. A. KENNEY-HERBERT

From Chambers' Journal.

pents, and the performances of his | behind Dustagir's durgah, for Rowecelebrated Arab horse Shabash delight Croker, the lady's husband, is an Irishthe ears of young Mr. P. Green, the man, in the habit, they say, of shooting last arrival from Haileybury. For our men who offend him, or threatening to judge (so say the captious) is more at do so, like garden, thrushes. As she home with his spear in the pig-skin, or finally quits the music-stool the hand of in the jungle with his favorite "Joe the ormolu clock is pointing to midManton," than on his throne in court night, our carriages are called, and we with the sword and scales of Justice. retire. But we go not as the spirit Curries are paraded (as has been de- may move us; dear me, no! We described), and the clock strikes nine as part in the same order as that in which they file away. Divers sweets come on, we went in to dinner; seniors first, and then a pineapple cheese, and at about the juniors according to their degree, a quarter to ten the cloth is removed. punctilio which no one dreams of inWine-bibbing after dinner is now the fringing. prevailing custom, so when the bottles have been circulated twice the ladies withdraw, and the business of punishing some really fine old Madeira is seriously undertaken. It is nearly eleven o'clock before we rise. Captain Flitter now respectfully suggests to the general that as there is a parade early to-morrow morning, perhaps he would like to slip off to bed; for between ourselves, the veteran, still perfectly clear as regards his head, cannot command his legs so well as he did at an earlier part of the evening, and this advice is a prearranged thing between Mrs. McGowlie and the aide-de-camp. So our host, asIt was high noon, and traffic through sisted by the stout major-domo afore- the city gate of Dilnaghar had died said, "slips off," and we proceed to join away. One by one, creaking bullockthe ladies, though, sooth to say, there carts and footsore travellers, toiling are some among us who would have across the dusty plain towards the anchosen the better part had they fol- cient Kattiawar stronghold, had come lowed the general's example. Lucinda to a halt under what shade they could plays the show piece of music that won find by the wayside, to wait for the cool her a prize at school in London eighteen of the evening for the fulfilment of their months ago; and then Mrs. Rowe- journey. And there were none in the Croker, our chief songstress, whose city whose business was so pressing high C sharp was considered by her that they were compelled to leave its admirers when in its prime to have shelter in the blistering glare of the been quite as good as Jenny Lind's, midday sun. In a few days the southproceeds to the instrument. By reason west monsoon the much-needed bara of her reputation, which appears to barsat-would break, gladdening the laugh at time, she is listened to with at- thirsty land with plashing showers, and tention, as of her own accord she good-cooling the sultry air with breezes fresh naturedly passes completely through from the Indian Ocean. Then, for a her répertoire. We, happening to have month or two, crowds would jostle sensitive ears, would have been happier if she had not given us quite so often the remains of that high C sharp, but to have said so would have probably led to a meeting in that mango grove

THE HOARD OF THE VAZIR KHANJI.
BY HEADON HILL.

through the narrow archway in two unceasing streams from dawn to sunset again. But at the hottest hour of this broiling day the main artery of Dilnaghar was pulseless.

Not quite deserted, however, and not | forted. His wants and absolute necesquite silent, was the gateway. A wild- sities, such as they were, were attended looking, matchlock-man, one of his to by the priests of a neighboring temHighness the thakore's bodyguard, ple, one of whom came twice a day to slumbered peacefully in his niche, wak- bring him food and bear off any alms ing the echoes of the archway with a he might have taken. Indraji retained series of blood-curdling snores. The nothing for himself. None can say for sounds proceeding from the sleeping how many years longer he would have guard drowned all others, even the lazy kept his post, had it not been for the hum of the distant bazaar; but a pair chapter of accidents which broke his of sharp ears listening intently might water-vessel and brought the sleepiest have discerned a fainter sound, which soldier of the thakore's bodyguard on ever and anon struggled to assert itself duty at the same burning noontide; but in plaintive contrast to the harsh dis- as it was, the aged fakir's time was cord that quelled it-the sound of a come. feeble voice crying in the Guzerati tongue : "Water! For the love of God, bring me water, or I die !"

Fainter and fainter grew the old man's cries for help, till they were little more than a wordless moan. His head The wailing cry came from the foot fell back against the encircling collar, of the city wall just outside the arch- and his tongue began to loll from his way, and at first sight it would have parched lips; but still no one came, been difficult to identify its origin with and the pitiless sun went on baking the anything human; so bent and huddled wall behind him to the temperature of was the shapeless, filth-encrusted form an oven. The fierce black eyes were from which the voice proceeded. But on becoming glazed, and the familiar obnearer inspection the wizened features jects on the plain were assuming fanand glittering, beady eyes, half hidden tastic shapes in the disordered vision of with masses of tangled and dirty hair, the dying man, when suddenly a distant would have proclaimed their owner a footstep brought a ray of hope a firm, man, and a man in sore extremity. He swinging footstep, too, that told of honwas only sustained from falling prone est boot-leather- not of the shuffling to the ground by an iron ring round his approach of some sandal-shod or bareneck, the other end of which was built footed native. Nearer and nearer up or thrust into the city wall in the form the road from the open country came of a staple, and which thus kept him in the welcome sound, and just as Indraji a sitting posture. His clawlike hands put all his remaining strength into one were furnished with nails half a foot in last feeble cry of "Water! "a tall young length, and these were dug in agony Englishman sprang to his side, and, undeep into the burning sand. The frag-slinging a leathern bottle, held a cup of ments of a broken lotah, or water-vessel, the cooling liquid to the fakir's lips. at his side told plainly of the accident that was doing the Fakir Indraji to death.

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Thanks, sahib, thanks," the old man murmured in Hindustani as he finished the last drop of the precious draught. "You come too late to save my life, though in time to make death easier. Thy servant is grateful."

For nigh on seventy years the fakir had borne his self-inflicted torture outside the ancient gateway. There were old men in Dilnaghar, but none so old "Tell me where I can find help or that they could remember the time how I can move you from here," anwhen that spot had been tenantless.swered the young man, whose dusty, Day and night through the long years the holy man had sat there, bound by his iron ring, begging and praying by turns till he became one of the institutions of the place, and pilgrims came to touch his hoary locks and go away com

travel-stained appearance and inquiring glances bespoke him a stranger to Dilnaghar.

"You have given me all the help I need," replied the fakir, "and I move not from this spot till the Angel of