P R E F A C E .
IT it is not merely to the Sportsman, that this Work is addressed. It is oircred
to the Public as depicting the Manoers, Customs, Scenery, and CosUime of a
territory', now intimately blended witb the British Empire, and of such importance
to its welfare, as to annex a certain degree of consequence lo every piiblilication,
that eilber exhibits, or professes to impart, a knowledge of whatever
may hitherto have been concealed, or that remains unfolded to our view.
FIcrein the British Nimrod may view, witli no small salisfaclion, a new and
arduous species of the Chase. The curious observer of Nature will feel equal
transport, in contemplating that part of her works, which she has appropriated
to other soils. The Artist may reap a rich harvest of information, enabling him,
not only to comprehend more fully tlie scenery of the torrid zone, but to adorn
his own compositions with a greater variety of those beauties, which the climate
and narrow limits of his own country cannot famish. The Philosopher and the
Historian may either coufirm or correct their conceptions of former details : and,
lo say the least, even those who, devoid of care for the past or for the fntui-c,
seek for present recreation only, may in these pages find that which, cither
from its novelty or its attraction, may help them lo pass with pleasure through
many a lingering honr.
With a view to render this Work more generally useful, attention has been
paid to vary tlie scenery, &c. in the several Plates appertaining lo the same scries ;
as far as could be done without violating that harmony which should ever be
observed, in pursuing each subject through its natural course. Thus, the scenery
in the series of Hog-hunting is regularly preserved as an open country ; such as
is best suited to that branch of sporting; while the Tiger series will be found
generally to possess that grandeur of situation, which is peculiar to the nature
of that animal's haunts. Some varieties are, however, inli-odiiced by the desire to
alVord a more gener al view of the subject lo be illnstralcd ; as well as in conformity
lo ibe changes which occasionally lake place, in consequcnee of the
great intermixture of grass and underwood jungles in most part of India.
1 am aware that the orthography of many Hindu or Moors' words, will be
objected to, by such as possess a classical knowledge of thai language; but I
trust thai in following such a mode of spelling, as enables every individual, not
only to read, but to pronounce correctly, I shall iiave allained an objecl far
from meriting the severity of pedantic criticism. The Moors' language is
bnrlhened with consonants, like ihe German tongue; and such are tlie varieties
of i n ton alio n, (hat to have followed the Oriental formal ion of words, would
have completely bewildered the reader, and occasioncd him to speak in a
manner most offensive to an car habituated to Oriental collo<|uy. Let the
reader pronounce according to the English sounds of syllables, and he will
rarely fail in point of correctness. Had the Moors' language been more generally
.«poken in this country, my method might have been improper ; but as it
is required only lo give a certain propriety of intonation, there must be less
necessity for an adherence lo orthographic precision ; especially as it would have
by no means faciliatcd the reader's progre.'is,
Partial or detached communications, relaling to Indian customs, have at times
found their way lo our presses; but for the mo.st part in fragments, or enveloped
ill obscurity. Himlu terms have been given without the smallest explanation,
and the reader has been left to wade through a sea of incertitude. In
such instances, words or phrases purely Oriental, must, of necessity, often occur ;
but as I have taken particular care to explain their meaning, perhaps loo
frequently, 1 am nol in fear of being censured on that account. A Glossary is
also given, whence the clearest ideas may be formed regarding every point of
this nature, which may not appear to be fully elucidated in the parts where
the Hindu terms may be found.
At the same lime that it might have amounted to an impossibility, it would
assuredly have been injudicious, to adhere abstractedly lo the topic of
Sporting. For, in order Lo aiford a clear conception of every matter relaling
to Hunting and Shooting, much must be said of the nature of the game itself.
Hence, many collateral circumslances come under notice, and necessarily enler
into the detail. This, it is hoped, in lieu of loading the work with supcrlluous
pages, will bo welcomed by the indulgent reader, as conlrihuting to his information
and amusement. On the other hand, attention has been paid to select,
from that great abundance which the topic affords, such only as more closely
apply lo the subject in a liberal sense; or, whicb by relation lo the minuti® contained
in the engravings, nuiy exhibit them in a stronger light, and prevent the
possibility of misunderstanding.
The Public have at limes been amused with various anecdotes relaling to
Elephants, of which the generality may be attributed lo fiction ; because they