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EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES.

merits of each case before them, and as they only try petty cases, a moderate knowledge of law and procedure suffices.

Although nearly the whole town had assembled to see the bench at work, there probably was not a single person among the crowd who saw anything degrading or absurd for the representatives of their country and their creed to be subjected to the criticism of one whose colour, creed, and language, were all more or less repugnant to them, and who was

quarter of the globe.

born in another

The examination which ensued would have exhausted the patience of even a London magistrate. "Where did the defendant strike you? Were his eyes turned at the time to the north, or the south? Where were you looking at the time? Did he strike with his left hand, or his right? Were his fingers closed? Was his thumb outside or inside his fist? (The questioner illustrating his meaning with his own hand.) Did he hit out from the shoulder, or from the elbow? Did you attempt to guard your head? With the left hand, or the right? What kind of wood was the stick with which you were

EARLY EXPERIENCES.

169

struck? Was it a male bamboo, or a female bamboo?" and so on.

This microscopic examination, however, was probably got up for my special benefit, in order to show how eager the people at Shiekhpura were for the elucidation of the truth.

Substantial justice, however, is administered by the bench, and I could not help contrasting the trial with the first case which I tried soon after my arrival in India during the Mutiny.

A thief was brought up before me for stealing a bundle of rice. The custom in those days was for the native clerk to read the written story of the complainant before the witnesses were heard, and although I had passed the usual examination in Hindustani, I found on hearing the indictment that I could hardly understand one word of it. The heat, the clerk's monotonous voice, and the mesmeric influence of the punka combined, closed my eyes, and I fell fast asleep upon the bench. The clerk, thinking probably that it was useless to awake me, went on with the case; but when it was finished I awoke, horrified at my unseemly conduct, and thinking what on earth I should do. My clerk, however, who was

170

66

66

A COURTEOUS CLERK.

master of the situation, seeing my embarrassment whispered in my ear the single word, dismiss," or as he pronounced it, dish-mish. Satisfied that my clerk had found the best solution to my dilemma, I re-echoed the word dismiss," and the prisoner was informed by the native, whose duty it was to do so, that "His Worship after giving his case a patient hearing, had come to the conclusion that the charge was not proved, and that he might go about his business."

Next morning my clerk, who was a little grey-headed old gentleman, tapped softly at my door, and on entering my room, having looked carefully round to see that no one was listening, gave me a lecture couched in terms which only a native of Bengal could supply. He began by saying that the entire population of the district hailed my advent with joy. That so distinguished a luminary had never previously sat upon the bench; and that even those who lost their claims in my court must be satisfied. Having as he thought brought me into thorough good terms with myself and my ability, he added that, notwithstanding the admirable qualifications which I displayed, if I went to

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171

sleep periodically upon the bench, some rascal would certainly complain to Government, and both he and I would get into a scrape. It is needless to say that I took the hint, and soon I could master the language sufficiently to try the petty cases brought before me without reproach.

CHAPTER VIII.

Camp Life.-Beauty of the Country during the cold Weather. Sun Hemp.-Flax.-The Silk-cotton Tree. -Birds.-Insects.-Toads.-The Flame Tree.-Beetles. Vast flocks of Wildfowl.—Crested Grebes.—Ibises.— Snake Birds.-Egrets Nests.-Coots.-Mullets.-Weeds. Skylarks and Roses.

THE life which I am now leading resembles that of the patriarchs of old. A dweller in tents, surrounded by flocks and herds, I wander from place to place, and sleep in the mango groves, where the shades of night overtake me. On the 10th of February I crossed the Ganges, and joined Major Waller, the Superintendent of Police, who, with his wife and four children, have a separate encampment; and the only drawback to our perfect enjoyment is, that the Indian cuckoo and Coppersmith barbet are calling to their mates from