CHAPTER III. MULKAPOOR. "Here couched the panting tiger on the watch; Dragged the low bellowing monster to his lair, Crashed through his ribs into his heart Quaffed the hot blood, and gorged the quivering flesh Our camp.-Mulkapoor.-The Patel.-Good news of shekar.W-'s family.-Scheme for a Nautch.-The Begum.-Her love of good liquor.-The prescription.-Chineah and my shekar gang.-The doctor's ruse.-News of a man-eater.Departure of the gang. T was a fine morning, soon after sunrise, in the IT in the month of March, 18—, when I arrived at the little village of Mulkapoor, two days' march from Hydrabad, in the Deccan, in command of some irregular cavalry, which, with two companies of native infantry, formed the travelling escort of a begum (a lady of rank) and her daughter, who, with a large suite of followers and attendants of both sexes, was en route for the Presidency. The cavalcade consisted of numerous elephants, camels, palanquins, tonjons, hackeries, and vehicles of every description and colour, accompanied by a large body of gaudily dressed mounted attendants. The principal personages occupied the public bungalow, round which high canvass walls had been placed, and sentries posted, so as to prevent intrusion, and render it entirely private; besides which numerous black eunuchs guarded the fold, and seemed to take a jealous care "that none should pierce the secret bower, but those who watch the women's tower." The troops and camp followers halted on the open ground in front of the traveller's bungalow, and in a few short moments tents of every description uprose as if by magic; elephants, camels, and horses were eating quietly at their pickets; and in less time than it takes me to write, this little clearing from the surrounding jungle was converted into a busy camp. The scenery about Mulkapoor is very wild and beautiful. On all sides are ranges of hills, some covered with luxuriant jungle, others presenting bold scarped rocks and naked fantastic peaks, whilst in every direction from amongst the dense foliage noble forest trees towered like giants above the lower waving jungle. The scene in camp, though of every-day occurrence in India, would appear curious enough to a stranger, and merits description, for the noise of the trumpeting of elephants, the jingling of the camel's bells, the neighing of horses, the lowing of carriage bullocks, the bargaining of sepoys and camp followers with the bazaar men, was only heightened by the chase of a stray capon, whose errant ways were calling forth the indignation of my maity (cook) "Five minutes" (a cognomen he had acquired from the invariable answer he gave when anything was wanted), who, joined by half a dozen sepoys, was shying his slippers at this victim devoted to "sudden death" for our breakfast, and venting their spleen by abusing its female relations up to the tenth generation. Three English officers belonging to the detachment of infantry, and a Scotch doctor, who had medical charge of the party, had taken refuge under a large tamarind tree from the rays of the sun, that was rising high on a sky which had not a cloud upon it to intercept his beams, and were discussing brandy panee, tea, and manilla cheroots, waiting until their tents were properly established. As I joined the group, the old Patel, or head man of the village, came up, and having presented the customary lime, performed a series of low salaams to each of the party. He then drew up his hands together in token of respect, and begged us to excuse his not having made more preparations for our reception, stating "that he had only received intimation of our coming the day before, and that, on account of this short notice, he had become "lachar" (desperately miserable) when he thought that, perhaps, we might want something that he had not had time to provide. As the old man had provided plenty of "gram" (beans) and forage for our horses, with a fine table sheep and fat fowls for ourselves, we declared ourselves satisfied, upon which his face brightened up, and stroking down his long gray beard, he exclaimed several times in a very complaisant manner, “Allah talah!” “ Al-humda lillah!” (thank God! God be praised!). "I should much like to halt a few days here," said Mac, the senior subaltern, addressing Captain Wwho commanded the infantry detachment, "for there must be splendid shooting in those dense ravines." "Yes," answered W, "it looks quite 'a tigerish spot.' What say you, old man? Have you not plenty of 'shekar' here?" continued he, addressing the Patel. "Yes, sahib," answered he, "there is plenty of shekar to be found in these jungles. Tigers, bison, bears, panthers, elk, milghau, antelope, and spotted 1 66 Shekar," sport. deer are to be found, besides all kinds of small game; but if the 'sahib log' (gentlemen) wish to be successful, they must take some one with them who knows the haunts of the animals; so, with your permission, I will take my leave for the present, and fetch Kistimah the peon (policeman), and Veerepah the dhoby (washerman), both of whom are good ('shekaries') hunters, and will be useful to your honours." So saying, he made a profound obeisance, and retired gracefully. As he strode away, I heard him muttering audibly, though rather sotto voce, "Oh, fool of an old man that you are, what have you done? Your face will become black before the sahib log, if neither the peon nor the dhoby are to be found; and if, God helping,' they should be at home, still, perhaps, those jungle animals of defiled fathers will not allow themselves to be seen, and again I shall eat dirt. Abah! Abah! Toba!" 66 6 Well, my chickens!" exclaimed W——, “as the old Moslem gives so favourable an account of the place, I think we cannot do better than halt a day or two, provided the old begum raises no objections to the proposition, for I have another strong reason for wishing to remain here a short time, which is, that our supply of liquor will not last the trip, if we get on as fast as we have done, for when it was ordered, I did not think we should |