of the British rulers. In order to withdraw his mind from dwelling on what he is, and what he might be, the resident encourages the prince in giving fêtes, flying kites, (this they actually do for thousands of pounds,) forming hunting-parties, and making a great fuss about little affairs. To prevent his highness from bribing any one, the said officer has the charge of the royal jewels, which he only gives out on state occa sions. He manages to employ one third of the nawab's servants, and keeps the swaree (or train) of elephants in his own grounds. In a word, a sovereign prince, reigning over a territory in British India, has about as much power as a state prisoner in the Tower, who, though flattered by an outward, an apparent respect, cannot command a single moment of real liberty. The greatest difference, however, exists between these potentates and those who have refused to submit to our rule. I remember well a scene which passed with one of the latter, when I was secretary to the resident at Moorshedabad. An envoy had arrived from the Nawab of--to the British resident, his mission having for its object the cession of a considerable territory to the East India Company. The utmost secrecy was to be observed a single word betrayed might ruin the whole affair, and involve the prince in a serious affair with his neighbours. It was therefore with some difficulty that the native envoy would even consent to my being present, so jealous was he lest the subject of his embassy might transpire. : Mr. A, the resident, received him with due honour in the large hall of his magnificent mansion, where he ordinarily held his durwan, or court. It was a magnificent chamber, floored with marble, and fitted up with several European looking-glasses. To do honour to the guest, these mirrors were now uncovered, and the mats, which occasionally covered the floor, were rolled up, and placed in a corner of the room. The conference had begun. Several points had been mooted and settled, when I remarked the Envoy's eye fix itself steadily on one of the glasses, as if he beheld some object of interest in it. He, however, made no remark, and went on conversing. The interview was nearly over, when he slowly rose, and walked towards the corner of the room. He saw the surprise of Mr. A. He read his astonishment at this strange proceeding in the midst of an important discourse; but he calmly turned round, and remarked, "You will excuse me, great sir, if I am mistaken. You will, I hope, pardon me if I am correct in my supposition, and agree with me that my present act is dictated by justice and prudence. Those high in position cannot be too cautious. " The Resident stared, unable to comprehend the proceeding, I may be mistaken; but I think not, added the native chief. Then, suddenly drawing his dagger, he plunged it into one of the rolls of matting. A hollow, a deep groan issued from it as he quickly repeated the blow. Then turning, with a look of triumph and satisfaction, to Mr. A-, he quietly said, I knew it was so." "You have killed some one. I am sure that cry proceeded from no beast of prey. It was a human voice I heard. » - Precisely," replied the other, without changing a single muscle of his countenance, precisely, and he coolly unrolled the mat, in the centre of which a corpse lay weltering in its blood, What have you done? You have murdered him. » By stopping the slave's mouth I have saved the lives of thousands. He will never attempt to betray his master again, » added he, spurning the body with his foot. «But I see, great sir, you don't like the sight of the wretch. If so, do not let us think of this little incident any more; but, with your leave, we will adjourn to another room. » The Resident assented. The cession of territory was agreed on. The dead black-man was thrown into the Ganges. It would have been impolitic to have made any stir about the matter. STRANGE GAME. No country in the world, perhaps, offers such temptations for the true sportsman as India. The quantity of game, (particularly in Bengal), exceeds the most sanguine ideas of an untravelled Briton. The sport itself is considerably more majestic, and more imposing. The wild peacock, the florikin, the black cock of India, are incomparably beyond the puny game of the West. The traveller, who has hunted the tiger, the lion, and the wild boar, may almost venture to look down on fox-hunting as a childish amusement. The very dangers which environ the Eastern chase give it an excitement as superior to that of Great Britain, as the fox-hunt boasts over the capture of a tame cat, or the destruction of a harmless rabbit. Remember, I am an Indian; I speak as an Indian; I write as an Indian. Were I an Apperly or Nimrod, I might then view the subject in a different light. The whole face of the country in the East seems alive. A thousand species of birds unknown in Europe-a thousand different kinds of animals, omitted by some of our best zoologists-a thousand venomous, but beautiful reptiles, vivify the scene. With a gun over the shoulder, a host of objects, besides those which are styled « legitimate game, offer themselves to tempt a shot, (not that I ever had the craving desire, which some men feel, merely to kill and destroy, for the sake of wanton cruelty,) from their gay plumage and curious form. ་་ It was strolling through a wood high up the country," with my Manton on my shoulder, my thoughts all centred in Europe, when I heard a curious noise in a tree almost immediately above me. I looked up, and found that the sounds proceeded from a white monkey, who skipped from branch to branch, chattering away with delight at beholding a fellow-creature of a larger growth, for so he decidedly seemed to consider me. For a few moments I took no notice of his antics, and walked quietly along, till suddenly a large branch VOL. III. 33 fell at my feet, narrowly escaping my head. I again paused, and found that the missile had been dropped by my talkative friend. Without consideration I instantly turned round, and fired at him. The report had scarcely sounded, when I heard the most piercing, the most distressing cry that ever reached my ears. The agonised shriek of a young infant burst from the little creature whom I had wounded. It was within thirty paces of me. I could see the wretched animal, already stained with blood, point to its wound, and again hear his dreadful moan. The last agony of a hare is harrowing to the tyro, and I have seen a young sportsman turn pale on hearing it. The present cry was, however, more distressing. I turned round, and endeavoured to hurry away. This, however, I found no easy task; for, as I moved forward, the unhappy creature followed me, springing as well as it could from bough to bough, uttering a low wailing moan, and pointing at the same time to the spot whence the blood trickled. Then regarding me steadily, but mournfully, in the face, it seemed to reproach me with my wanton cruelty. Again I hastened on, but still it pursued me. When I stopped, it stopped; when I attempted to go forward, it accompanied me. Never in the whole course of my life did I feel so much for a dumb animal; never did I so keenly repent an act of uncalled-for barbarity. Determined not to allow the poor monkey thus to linger in torture, and at once to end the annoying scene, I suddenly came to a halt, and lowering my gun, which was only singlebarrelled, I was about to re-load it for the purpose of despatching the maimed creature, when, springing from the tree, it ran up to within about half a dozen paces of me, and began to cry so piteously, and roll itself in agony, occasionally picking up earth, with which it attempted to stanch the blood by stuffing it into the wound, that, in spite of my resolution, when I fired, I was so nervous, I almost missed my aim, inflicting another wound, which broke the animal's leg, but nothing more. Again its piercing shriek rang in my ears. Horrified beyond endurance, I threw down my gun, and actually fled. In about half an hour I returned, for the purpose of fetching my Manton, fully expecting that the poor animal had left the spot. What, then, was my surprise to find a crowd of monkeys surrounding the wretched sufferer. As I advanced under the shade of some trees, I stole almost close to them before they perceived me. I took advantage of this circumstance to pause for a moment, and watch their movements. The stricken monkey was crying out in the most piteous manner; the others were busily employed in tearing open the wound, trying to destroy the already dreadfully maimed creature. A shout drove them all away, save the dying animal.I advanced; the little monkey was rolling in agony. I took up my gun, which lay beside him. I fancied he cast one look of supplication on me, one prayer to be relieved from his misery. I did not hesitate; with one blow of the buttend I dashed out his brains. Then turning round, I slowly returned to my quarters, more profoundly dispirited than I had felt for many months. Take my advice, sensible reader, if you must live in India, never shoot a monkey. (BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.) ་ On seeing Justice lies here inscribed on the Tomb-stone of a notorious Liar. We thought when on his head the dust we threw, No more on earth his influence would be known From the dry bones the tablet takes its cue- A bumpkin gazed upon the stone-no sigh " Dang it! its queerish-but EcoD YE'RE RIGHT! » Qui pro quo. |