GOING OUT IN THE MORNING.
abroad ; where quantities are occasionally used in fusing metals for casting
ordnance. Iron spikes armed willi hooks, arc driven into the ground at proper
distances, and serve as racks for the spits, which are placed over tlie centre of
the embers formed into a long i-idge, and are turned J)y hand, as in Scotland,
and other parts. Pots are placed I o boil on ranges of lióles dug out of the
ground ; the turfs being placed as rests under their bottoms, so as to admit a free
draught of air ; or tliey are placed on ckoolas, constructed of dried mud, wliich,
though made to contain only one or two boilers, iiave the advantage of being
portal)te, and can be turned to whatever quarter the wind may shift.
Under such circumstances, dinners are dressed which might vie with the best
cookery in Europe; a circumstance the more extraordinary, as the natives, except
of the lowest and most degraded casts, or sects, will not touch any viands
that have been at the table of ao European, or that may have be.;n defiled by
his touch, even though he should but enter the area made for the purpose
of cooking the victuals !
The vast numbers of plantations made of mango trees, especially throughout
Bengal and the northern provinces, by the natives, cliiefly through ostentation,
allbrd considerable convenience lo persons inhabiting tents. Some of these
])1 an Cations or topes arc of such extent, that an army of ten or twelve thousand
men might encamp under shelter: a circumstance which to the native soldiery,
with whom tents are not in use, is of great moment. In the hot season, the
shade is both pleasanl and salutary; in the cold months, these woods afford
warmth by keeping oil the bleak wind ; and in the rainy portion of the year,
(hose trees which have the thickest foliage contribute to ihc comfort of the
troops, by thro^ving the ^vater ofl'from certain spots, and rendering them habitable.
Sporting parties are benetiled in a similar manner: such places are
chosen as are well shaded, and near to wells or tanks. Some trees, however,
are avoided, as having a baneful inilucnee : the tamarind, for instance, under
which nothing will vegetate. The hurghit, or banian tree, exhibited in Plate II.
has a similar eilcct on plants, but is not, like the tamarind, injurious to animals.
The kunfaul or kiiUunl, counnonly called thcj'acA-, is the Indian fig. Its fruit
grows like large pendant bulbs, from llie stem or main branches. Some of these
weigh from twenty to thirty pounds : they rarely ripen on tlie tree, requiring a
slick smeared with a thick solution of fresh lime lo be run through tliem,
and lo remain until the coat shall change colour and become soft. The kernels
or fruit are numerous, and by some arc much admired ; but the smell of
a jack when (irst opened is almo.st as oilensive as carrion. When the fruit
is nearly perfect, the scent is strong al limes from the tree; but othenvise
ihcre is no inconvenience in being under its shade; wiiich. from the opakeness
of its foliage, much rcseml)ling the laurel, eíTectually.precludes the sun. The
mango tree being most common, is usually resorted to; the more so, as it is a
general practice thai when a plantation is made, a well should be dug at one
of its sides. The MCU and the lope are married; a ceremony al wliich all the
village attends, and in which often much money is expended. Tlie well is
considered as the husband ; as iLs waters, wliich are copiously furnished to th.-
young trees during the first hot season, are sui,po.sed to cheri.li and impn-gnate
ihein. Though vanity and superstition arc evi<lently tli<. basi.s of these instiiulions,
yet we cannot help admiring tlieir eflect.s, so beaulifully ornamenting a
torrid country, and affording such general convenience. ^
Having premised thus much. I shall proceed Lo state the manner in wliich a
party usually repairs to ihc hunting ground.
To those who have but one horse, wliich is a common case, e^^pccially among
gentlemen of the a riny, il is an object of mument to keep him fre.sh for the
sport. This motive, added to the refreshment produced by chang«- of seat and
position, induces many to proceed to and from the field on elephants, which are
variously accoultvd for the occasion; some having only the pads used when
carrying burthens ; others, if of small slaliire, furnished willi saddles, or cushions
and stirrups; and others again \vilh hoxsduhs, or carriages, with or without
hangings. These are respectivly exhibited in the present Plate, and their construction
will be found particularly detailed in ihc subsequent Numbers, in
such parts as may require more complete elucidation. Suffice it for the present
lo state, that the carriage pad is formed of canva.s, stuffed hard with straw, and
lashed securely to the elepliant's back by strong hempen cords. It is in general
spacious enough lo hold about four persons, though I have seen some .so large,
being in proportion to the elephant's bulk, a.s to carry eight or nine with ease
It requires a good spring lo jump up ; and those not possessed of such active
powers are aided by servants, or avail themselves of the benefit of a chair, &c.
lo facilitate their mounting, Saddles arc appropriate to such elephants as may
be of rather low stature, that is about six feet or less ; they are placed on pads
lined with cotton or wool, and are girted on as with horses. In this manner
only one person can ride each elephant; it is, however, in my mind, the most
pleasant mode. Some, instead of a saddle, have a long cushion fastened on with
one or two pairs of stirrups. These are certainly convenient and easy ; besides
which they possess ihe advantage of carrying double. The howdah being made
on a strong frame, and of a heavy construction, requires not only to be very
effectually .secured to the pad, butshouhl be borne by elephants of good stature;
that is from seven feet upwards. They are of various forms. That exhibited
in this Plate is an IHndostance, such as has been ever in use among the
natives, and was al first the only form adopted by Europeans, who have since
considerably varied this conveyance. All howdahs, however, require a ladder
to ascend into them ; after which ihe ladder is slung at the side of the elephant,
in a horizontal position, by means of rope-loops made for that purpose. The
iron rails in ihe front were introduced by gentlemen for the purpose of supporting
their fire arms ; and some have added a similar guard all around the back,
filled up with cord or wire-netting, as a security against falling out. The
coosuh, or back division of the howdah, behind the front seat, is usually allotted
lo a servant, who conveys cither an umbrella or ammunition, or furnishes the
sportsmen with refreshment. Into this the menials generally ascend by