horses. I began training on the 1st of this month, and I have had seven two-mile trails out of the known horses and five out of the Maidens, but only three from the colts, with a glass of brandy-andwater after every trail. Was not this right? By-the-by, one of the known, and one of the Maidens, have gone lame and look swelled about the back since, though I don't think they are actually broke down, so I fancy I shall only bring the following to the post.

Quiz. Whiz.-The known Nags. I shan't give their former names, but run them on the sly.

Boaz-is the big-bellied Colt, a lofty fine galloper.

Buzz-a stout fat Maiden with four white legs.

Friz-a ditto, ditto, but with a white face.

Fuz-is the foul feeder.

Kurruz-has now got cracked heels and I fear (though I regularly butter them myself every night) that he will not be well enough to start. You will observe that all my horses' names terminate in Z. This is a fancy founded on the custom of some old turf friends of mine, but I cannot for the life of me pick up any more— do think "Doze," with a cross though the final e, would do, or shall I call the others "Fuz the first," "Buzz the second," and so on? Pray assist me in this, or else

you

I must change my letter, which would look snobbish.

You have no doubt seen the letter from O. K., who writes well, and no doubt means well, but from his quoting Sam Chifney and following his rules, it is evident he pursues the English mode of training, which surely cannot be beneficial to an Arab horse; for if you were going to train a Brahmin to fight a battle with Belcher or Bob Baldwin, you certainly would not feed him on rumpsteaks and onions!

What can be the use of O. K.'s pepper and salt in his grain? unless indeed the gram was green, and then a little butter might be an improvement. The fact is O. K. seems to be humbugging; but I'm not to be bit. I'll tell you how I found it out.

He tells me to sit my horse all night with the Muzzle on. Now how the devil could I, or my Jockey, keep on his back for eight or ten hours?-'twould fatigue both man and beast to death; and then he tells me to give him a godown of Madeira and water!" a godown! what's a godown? No, no, Weazels says I, and am,

66

Dear Sir,

Yours much obliged, NOVICE.

Poona, October 20th, 1828.

SIR,

The contemptible way in which I have heard Sportsmen generally speak of Cheeta hunting induces me to give the following account of one, as it may probably be a

caution to young sportsmen, and a wrinkle to some of the old who have not been in this part of the country, and not aware that there are several different species of this animal, differing from each other

as much in strength and ferocity as any other class of animals with which we are acquainted.

On the 22nd March, 1828, we had intelligence of a hog being found by the Wagrees at a village six coss distant. Three of us soon reached the place, and found the tracks so numerous over an extensive plain, and each of the Wagrees (who were following different tracks) so confident that they had the largest Boar and would find first, that we were induced to separate, each of us following the Wagree in whose skill we had most faith. After a couple of hours' pugging, we found the hog had been disturbed by the cattle of the village, and just began to feel that cruel heartsinking which is occasioned by hard fagging and disappointment at the time our hopes are most excited, and is familiar to (I may say peculiar to) the followers of this noble sport on such occasions. However, being determined not to give up whilst the Wagrees could follow the nearly obliterated tracks, we went on, slowly beating every bush in sight, when we heard a loud scream from one of the beaters, who immediately fell on his face. On riding up to the bush a small Cheeta sprung out, which was soon dispatched. With hearts a little elevated by this trifle, we moved on, each of us returning to our former station in the field, being about a mile and a half frem one another; another anxious hour passed, and our chance of finding any of the bristly tribe every step decreased, as we had got upon ground where there was scarcely cover for a hare, when a beater called out to one of the party who was next to him, and pointing to a little grass, said there was a Tiger in it. He advanced, and had not far gone when he saw the gentleman (a

formidable Panther) crouching with his head towards him. Lowering his spear to the charge, he rode at him, and ran it through the skin of his chest, but not so as to hurt him severely; he made off, and was followed about two hundred yards and then speared again through one of his hind legs. He now became very desperate at being touched up in this way, turned and followed his pursuer about a hundred yards, and just succeeded in clawing his horse's hind leg (at this period the horse was not alarmed, though a gelding); finding he could not do him in speed, he returned to the nearest patch of grass, where we amused ourselves by riding past him alternately, he charging in the most furious manner for the distance often of a hundred yards, with such speed that he nearly overtook the horse and rider, both doing their best to get out of his way. Having got tired of this fun, Old Poins, after applying his thumb to the point of his spear, to ascertain that all was right, then placing more securely his old white beaver upon his head, with a peculiar screw (I saw there was mischief), in an instant charged at full speed slap at the Panther, who did not as formerly spring to meet him, but allowed the horse nearly to pass; then springing upon his hind quarters with such force, that he spun him nearly round, and all but drowned him and rider. However, the horse was too active for him, and broke away with his rump well clawed, and his rider with the loss of a top from his Europe jack-boot, taken as clean off as if a Savigny had been applied. Though this tended to frighten the horse to. such a degree as to incapacitate him for field sports in future, it rendered his rider more desperate and determined on death and

destruction. It was now proposed by Old Poins that we should dismount and attack him on foot; this the majority would not agree to, as they had wisely considered what a poor figure they would cut with only a spear to ward off the attack of such a formidable brute; besides the chance of getting several spears in their bodies instead of his by the beaters, if they had the ill luck to have an embrace from this devil. However, no advice or entreaty would prevail with Poins, who had determined upon going at him with a short sabre (which he is in the habit of hunting with) in the right hand, and a strong spear in the left, with about eight beaters armed with spears and one Wagree with a sword; the other Wagrees and beaters having mistaken the direction we had gone in, had not come up. Placing himself in the centre, they advanced boldly till they came within about 25 paces of him, when he made his appearance with a roar, and advanced with his belly close to the ground, till within 10 spaces; then making a spring at Poins with the quickness of lightning (he being the only one to receive him, the others having made the best of their way to the rear on his first appearance), his spear being knocked out of his hand, he was under him in an instant, and seized by the left arm,

was shaken as a dog would a rat. He cut at him with little effect several times; however, he let go his former hold and seized his right arm; then got hold of his throat; on which the Wagree went up with the greatest coolness, took off his pugree and put it about the Panther's neck, which made him turn on him, and serve him as he did his master. Poins having got up continued the attack, and cut him again across the loins, which had the effect of making him let go the unfortunate Wagree, and take after a beater a little distance off, who soon distanced him, he showing evident symptoms of fatigue and distress at this period. However, he was determined to die game, and in returning, amongst the whole party, showed his former partiality for his first antagonist Poins, who was not to be done this time, but gave him a dreadful cut in the neck, when in the act of springing on him, which nearly severed his head from his body; and after a few staggers he breathed his last. The wounds which Poins and the Wagree received in this affair confined them some weeks, and were months in healing.

For the authenticity of this account I pledge myself.

Rajcote.

T. U.

no orator myself, and consequently unable to cope with a wordy opponent, I should like to find the advocates of the flint fairly pitted on paper against the friends of the nipple and cap, and if the controversy be carried on with temper and good will, I have no doubt much valuable information might be obtained and the great question in some measure decided.

I acknowledge myself to be a con. vert to the superior qualities of the detonator, and therefore shall support it most strenuously, nor, with the exception of one or two just possible, but not very probable objections, can I conceive what arguments the advocates of the flint would adduce to prove even an equality in the merits of their gun.

The objections to the detonator, just alluded to, are those always brought forward against it by its opponents, and generally amount to the following:

1st. The report is louder and therefore more annoying.

2nd. The recoil is greater, and therefore more unpleasant and more apt to make you unsteady.

3rd. The longer time required to load.

4th. The chance of the cap falling off the nipple.

5th. The possibility of a scarcity of caps, which would render the detonator useless until a fresh supply came from England.

6th. That the detonators scatter most, and do not throw the shot so far.

7th. The greater expense, in the price of caps.

Now it seems to me very easy to answer all these, and I should say, 1st, that as with the detonator, the whole powder in the gun is instantaneously and all at once ignited, and consequently acts with more power, so it therefore requires a less charge, by which the report is lessened and the re

coil weakened. I know Col. Hawker maintains that the instantaneous ignition is not so powerful as the gradual explosion from the flint, but I am at a loss to discover the principles on which he founds his opinion, and although I have conversed with many advocates for the flint, yet no one has ever attempted to uphold this opinion of the Colonel's. If therefore my argument in favour of the greater power being with the sudden ignition be correct, it fully establishes my answer to the first two objections.

With regard to the delay in loading a detonator, I am prepared to admit that a little longer time is occupied in that operation than with the flint, for the hand must dive into the pocket three times instead of twice, but I am sure the difference would not be more than four seconds, which, if you fire sixty times during your morning sport, would amount to the aggregate loss of four minutes only. A sportsman must be a monstrous economist of his time to begrudge so very small a portion of it.

As to the chance of a cap falling off, it is possible-barely possible, and may happen once in a season, or you may forget to put one on; and of course there is a possibility of a failure in the supply of caps, but these objections are too idle to deserve a reply, and might be opposed by similar ones applied to the chance of losing your priming or forgetting to prime, or the failure of a supply of flints; however, the last of these objections is better removed by the certainty and ease with which caps can be made and fitted in this country.

To the only serious fault or failure attributed to detonators, that of scattering more and throwing shorter than flint locks, I shall oppose a more serious argument;