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CATTLE POISONING.

grazing-ground, or laying in a regular store of fodder for their cattle, but leave them to pick up a scanty meal wherever they can, by the road side, or by pilfering their neighbours' fields.

When the population of Monghyr was less than it is at present, marshes and waste lands not considered worth cultivating were left for the cattle; but now every available acre is appropriated for growing food for man; and the cattle being ousted from their feeding-grounds get thinner and thinner every year.

As in the case of man, the epidemics which break out amongst the cattle give the survivors some little chance of getting fat, and the question arises whether it is not fortunate that the remedies hitherto adopted for stamping out epidemics among cattle in India have proved of very little avail.

I always looked suspiciously on cases of alleged cattle-poisoning, reported to be very prevalent in Monghyr. It was said that the Muchis or hide-dealers poisoned the cattle in order to get their skins. But when an epidemic broke out in a village, and the people

could not ascertain its nature, they were apt to declare it was caused by poison. This is what occurs occasionally, I believe, when pestilence breaks out in European cities, and with the aid of a little arsenic, and two or three unscrupulous witnesses, there is not much difficulty then in getting any suspected person, hide-dealer or other, into trouble.

My view of the matter was corroborated by the reports of the chemical examiner; for he seldom could detect poison in the stomach of the cow said to have been poisoned, and sent to him for examination.

Other causes which lead to deterioration in the cattle are, that the sacred bulls which in former days roamed about the country at their pleasure, of late years have been voted a nuisance and seized for dragging municipal and other public carts; and the main body of the people decline thinning out their cattle by eating beef.

One of my servants was a great breeder of lean kine; and in order to stock his farm he was not over scrupulous in his notions regarding meum and tuum. I bought a large silver bracelet on one occasion, and, incautiously leaving it on

54

THIEF CATCHING.

my table, next morning it had disappeared. I gave myself very little concern, however, at its loss; for I knew I could get it back, having a plan for recovering property stolen by my servants which I never knew to fail. I said nothing about what had happened, except to my faithful valet; and in his presence placed two marked rupees powdered over with nitrate of silver in the place where the bracelet had been. Next morning my valet reported that the money also had disappeared; and then I felt certain of my man. All my servants were summoned by beat of drum, and placed like soldiers in a line, and I harangued them telling them of my loss, and how wrong it was for a servant to rob his master. I watched the faces present, but they gave no sign; and then I told them what I had done, and how the thief would have a caustic mark upon his hand. The first man who stole a glance at his hand was of course the holder of my property, and on seeing, what probably he had not noticed, the mark of a rupee burnt on his hand, he turned and fled across country as hard as his legs could carry him, pursued by his fellowservants, who vied with each other in catching

PUNISHMENT FOR THEFT.

55

him. After an exciting chase, the culprit was secured, and brought back to my house, where he made a full confession of his guilt; disgorged my bracelet and money, and then was drummed out of my premises, amid the execrations of his fellow-servants.

CHAPTER III.

The Birds of Prey in Monghyr.-Their Nesting in Villages.-Vultures' Nests.-Eagle's Nest attacked by a Lizard. Tree Planting along the District Roads.Novel Method of preventing Damage to the Trees.Pilgrims to Bhaijnath. - Christianity in Monghyr. -Cholera.-Green Pigeons.-The Swinging Festival.Camping in Monghyr.—Supplies to Government Officers. Treatment of Native Servants.-Bribery and Corruption. Present from a Native.-Setting up House in Monghyr. The pecuniary State of the Indian Civil Service.

THE birds of prey, being seldom molested in India, are not so careful as they are in England to keep out of the sight of man or hurry off at his approach under pain of being shot down and hung up as malefactors. This is always a source of satisfaction to the naturalist, who may, on arrival in India, study the habits of vultures, kites, storks, and other birds little known in England, from his club window