out the agency or immediate intervention of his digits (a most difficult undertaking with some), and be superficially acquainted with the transactions of the Sporting World generally. Without these accomplishments he will be unable to take part in the conversation. Their antipathies and interdictions are five in number, viz. fiddles, cards, tea, early dinners, and Bengal cigars.

I am disposed to consider these two last as very sensible.

Pursuing the train of events which in club cases is seldom less mechanical than the plot of a modern romance, a member of the Cock and Bull is pleased to take umbrage at something offensive which was never said, or at some lack of courtesy or deference, the existence of which is probably confined to his own perverse or bewildered imagination, walks walks off in a huff, and becomes as devout an execrator of the club and of its constitution, as he was but now a bigot in its cause. The next step is to " get up an opposition," whose basis

can

hardly be too antipodal to the obnoxious fabric of its rival. The Cock and Bull, as we have already seen, abominate the very odour of tea, under whatever name, and those who take a proper view of the case will therefore be at no loss to perceive why "The Bohea" is at once a classical and appropriate designation for the new club. Cards in any shape, and early dinners, are amongst the five prescribed abominations of the Cock and Bull; to evince their contempt for which, the Bohea club dine at half-past two, and sit down six nights out of seven to long whist for poula points, and I once positively detected them playing mouche for love. The violin (fiddle I mean), most hateful of the cat-gut tribe, is to the Cock and

Bull in the same relative position as swine's flesh to a Moslem, and is therefore fanatically patronised by the Bohea, who frequently so far forget what is due to themselves as to dance to its discord. In like manner, tobacco in all its multitudinous varieties of chillum and cigar, chinsuras excepted (effigy of brown paper!), are most rigorously exploded.

A tolerable acquaintance with the violin (violin indeed), a droll song, or talent as a punster are here certain stepping stones to club notoriety; but eschew sporting subjects and discussions as worse than mischievous and involving speedy disgrace. The slightest allusion to these matters and they will have you down for a nincompoop. Twaddle or scandal, with a dash of smut, are admirably suited to the tea-table, and may be here introduced with the greatest confidence; any old clinch, quotation, or conundrum decently applied, will be sure to raise a laugh, if it does not embolden your neighbour to follow your example, in which case you will probably gain credit with the club for your own joke, and for his also.

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In order to be conspicuously diverting, I would suggest that a led Captain or dull unsuspecting ninny-hammer be selected by way of butt" (they are always at hand), and his situation rendered still more ridiculous by the waggish grimace of that side of your face which is beyond his sphere of vision. But if you

simply aspire to celebrity as a droll fellow, a very moderate stock of the raw materials of fun will answer every purpose at the Bohea club; perhaps occasionally assisted by an accomplice, in case the company are not disposed to applaud, or what is still more likely. are too fuddleheaded to apprehend your wit.

One word on the subject of Bohea, the chosen and well-beloved beverage of this eccentric club. Bohea is the identical infusion which we have seen swallowed or rather gulped in monstrous potations by stage coachmen, during their fifteen minutes' breakfast recess. It is the selfsame nauseous, deepcoloured decoction prepared by the ship steward with one dig into the coarse sugar, once round with the spoon, and "There, take that to your master, and don't trouble me no more." word, it is that inferior production

SIR,

In a

of all China of which large quantities are canted into a ship's bilge, to prepare the way for something more valuable, and yet the Bohea Club is guilty of preposterously eulogizing the excellencies of this abomination. I shall only notice one curious circumstance connected with their panegyrics, which is that the very longest are usually made by little men; doubtless with a design to extend themselves that way, and make up in length of argument what they want in

stature.

Considering your interesting little periodical the only legitimate channel of publication for all sporting subjects, you will confer an obligation by inserting in your next number the following Prospectus of a new Sporting Club, lately got up at this station, which, when once made public, there is little doubt will be supported by numerous individuals, who, but for the voice of your Mag., would have been ignorant even of its existence.

I am, Mr. Editor,
Yours obediently,
A PONGO.

PROPOSITIONS.

1st. That there be a club formed at Sholapoor for all description of sports, viz., hunting, shooting, fishing, &c., to be designated the Royal Sholapoor Sporting Club, the uniform to be a scarlet coat, blue cuffs and collar, with gilt buttons of the King's pattern.

2nd. That this club be established

N.

the Deccan, where the roads are less multifarious, and guides less in requisition, the average time expended in realizing a Wataria is about two hours and three-quarters, Shrewsbury; and, after all, when you have fairly got your man under way, the stubborn beast would rather be d-d to all eternity than stir his black stumps one bit above his regulated pace of two miles an hour. But in Guzerat the case is different: every village, possessing the slightest pretension to respectability, can boast of its quota of horse bhoomiohs; knights never to be taken alivearmed at all points, and each rejoicing in one of those finished specimens of anatomy, upon whose timeworn carcase may be detected at one glance, the whole long catalogue of maladies incidental to horseflesh.

All attempts to sneak past a village without being discovered by those gentry are idle and ridiculous. They have certain intelligence of your approach, and possess ample leisure to plan their ambuscade accordingly. On a

sudden, like the arrow from a bow, two of them dart from their concealment, annihilating you with a cloud of sand and dust, of which those only who are acquainted with the highly pulverized roads of Guzerat can form an

:

adequate idea whilst the appearance of a mare, or perhaps two, together with the bustle and gaiety of the scene altogether, has probably had the effect of driving your otherwise sober hack stark staring mad. Taking the lead by a few lengths, they keep it (go what pace you please) to the next village, where, if you are not completely blinded, you may expect to see a relief of two more, roaring and carricoling, and ready to pounce upon you from some commanding eminence.

Why two of them? Because

ten thousand unforeseen accidents may overtake them on the road. If one were to break down, for instance (nothing is more probable), pray who the devil is to take care of him? Besides which, a single man might be a little oblivious, and take the turning to the right instead of to the left; in which case I should like to be informed who is to find out and rectify his mistake. No, no, sir, a Joree, or pair of bhoomiohs, are every bit as indispensable to each other as a pair of gaiters; and a most confounded nuisance they undoubtedly are. Could I but be quite certain of never seeing another, I believe I would compromise to lose my road three times a day, and bet heavy odds that in the long run I came off a gainer by the bargain.

Dismount upon any pretext, in order, if possible, to increase the distance between yourself and the pair of bhoomiohs; they will pull up, and come to look at you. Proceed, and they are "quite agreeable." Six or eight well directed simultaneous double kicks (from the hip), following each other in rapid succession; with as many simultaneous double raps of

both elbows at the same moment; together with sundry violent tugs at the bridle, each tug accompanied by volleys of abusive epithets, and followed up by a back-handed administration of the rein, in and about the animal's eyes, have generally for their corresponding effect, first shuffle and change legs, second, two or three scrambles forward, and change again; then something betwixt a run, a scramble, and a shuffle (now for another simultaneous double rap), which becomes next a hobble, and lastly the very thing we have been looking for all the time-a canter. Once in motion, quicken your pace, and they quicken theirs; slacken, and they do the same. Tip them the go by (if you can), and if you don't look d-d sharp they will gallop over you.

Making play from the starting post is the only alternative of escape I have been able to devise, but in adopting it you will do well to remember that a fresh pair are probably on the look out for

you

at the next village. I had no sooner gruelled a brace of these gentry the other day, than I was picked up by a pair of fresh ones, who had come to meet me; a spavined mare, with one blind eye, and a fistula on the wither; and a grey garron completely incrusted with Burzauttee blossoms and scored all over with dots, stripes, crosses, circles, and stars, according to the taste of the operator. I felt convinced they could never stand the pace, and I was right. When I last saw them, the mare had laid down on her rider; and the other young man, whilst attempting to drag her off, received a kick in the

face from his own charger, who immediately levanted.

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It is worthy of remark that a cossid, or pedestrian, will perform a journey in less than one half the time required by a native horseman. In a case of protracted travel, the horse, if ever he reach his destination at all, has mainly contributed to retard, rather than accelerate, the progress of his rider. In short journeys the probabilities are very great that the cossid will have returned before the suwar have packed up his "nippers, tweezers," and so forth, caparisoned his horse, accoutred and harnessed himself, smoked his hookah, taken leave of his friends, settled with his merchant, and fairly adjusted himself in the saddle. It is an established fact, that no horseman ever returned from any mission until he had so far overstayed his time that two more (and very likely three more in quest of them) had been despatched to look him up, under the apprehension that he had "happened an accident."

I have trespassed at great length upon your time, Sir, but the subject of which I have treated is such a fund in itself, that I know not where to stop. In conclusion, I would caution the inexperienced traveller in Guzerat, when at any loss, on no account to make choice of the broadest or most frequented path, the straightest road to any place, as a universal rule, being always the least frequented.

Your very obt. Servant,
W. C. H.

10th June, 1831.

SIR,

I am delighted to find that my wish respecting that gallant old horse Harlequin, expressed in my last communication on the subject of "Stallions for England," has been realized, and that he is now half-seas over on his way to our native shores. I sincerely hope the English breeders will send their mares to him in preference to any Arab now at home, for in blood, bone, and muscle he certainly excels them all. Your correspondent "Neck and Neck" informs us that " Honesty" has been sent to England, and calls upon me to allow that in him they have a stallion of blood, make, and strength. I am most willing to do so, and rejoice with him that his destination has been so decided, but, with all due deference to Neck and Neck, a comparison between the two horses would not go quite so close as his signature. Permit me to intrude upon the attention of your readers with a few remarks regarding the make and shape of both animals; their performances speak for themselves, except only that Honesty commenced his racing exploits in the full vigour and prime of his life, whereas Harlequin was not put into training until he was an aged horse, both in the natural and sporting sense of that term, and after he had been knocked about at hard work, and been well battered both in his hoofs and his legs. If therefore he had begun his running as early and as advantageously in point of youth and condition as Honesty did, it is fair to infer that his performances would have excelled those recorded. Not that I mean to say a horse will always run better when young than when old, for I have known many instances

where first-rate racers have been beat to sticks in their first and even in their second season. Your correspondent O. K. could tell you the cause of this better than I can.

As far as I can recollect, Honesty was a light nutmeg grey, pinkish skin (which is most beautiful when the horse is heated). He had a white face, his head bony, and the jowl well open; his eye was not particularly fine; the neck, shoulder, and wither all excellent; and though somewhat long in the back, and apparently deficient in loin and false in the fillets, yet his quarter was lengthy, his hind legs well and straightly dropped, but without any strong development of muscle; the fore leg and arm were admirable, the chest well formed and broad, and he had great depth of girth.

His action at a canter and even at a smart gallop struck me as being unconnected and pottering; besides, at these paces his whole appearance was blemished by a most cruel and ungainly screw of the tail, the very sight of which almost made me sick; but when put to speed and settled to his rate, the tail became straight and his action was very imposing, galloping with a bent fore leg, with a stride such as I have attempted to describe in vol. i., page 460. That is covering the ground to which he stretched," which I again aver is the great cause of fleetness.

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Harlequin is a flea-bitten grey, and when a colt (though I don't know when that was) his colour was dark iron grey. In height he measured 14h. He has a well shaped large and genuine Arab head, a high forehead, and wide jowl, with a prominent and finely animated eye, denoting at once great resolu