Rifle and spear with the Rajpoots: being the narrative of a winter's travel and sport in northern India . pukkar-kuchur are, I regretto say, beyond my vocabulary. We cantered up the side of a barren mountain remind-ing one of Aden ; and through a series of well-cultivatedlittle valleys, surrounded by rocky hills. Then past asmall lake gradually drying up after the rains. As thewater recedes, every inch of mud is being sown withwheat. At the further end, amongst the sedges, an occasionalquack-quack betrays some teal and duck. But wehave no time to wait, and, riding hard, did not reachSaidan Sha
Rifle and spear with the Rajpoots: being the narrative of a winter's travel and sport in northern India . pukkar-kuchur are, I regretto say, beyond my vocabulary. We cantered up the side of a barren mountain remind-ing one of Aden ; and through a series of well-cultivatedlittle valleys, surrounded by rocky hills. Then past asmall lake gradually drying up after the rains. As thewater recedes, every inch of mud is being sown withwheat. At the further end, amongst the sedges, an occasionalquack-quack betrays some teal and duck. But wehave no time to wait, and, riding hard, did not reachSaidan Shah till dark. We found the Douglases belongings still unpacked andscattered round the house. Their servants did not arrive A RISKY RIDE. 157 till past six; yet by eight oclock we sat down to anexcellent dinner, and everything was comfortably arrangedfor the night. Indian servants are certainly seen at theirbest when travelling and in camp. Tuesday.—We sent our baggage to Kalar Kahar, wherethere is a house near a large lake. Alan started early toshoot duck. I waited for luncheon, and did not get away. KALAR KAHAU. till four oclock. The road was only a track, but, theytold me, went straight to our destination. This was aneighteen or twenty miles ride, so to save time I canteredoff alone, thinking all the time how I should make myselfunderstood if I took the wrung turn and had to inquirethe way. Hardly had I gone a mile, when my stirrupleather broke. It was impossible to mend it, and I had 158 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. to ride on without one. Some miles further, all tracesof a road gradually disappeared ; and except the tracksof the camels, which had gone before, there was absolutelynothing to guide me. The sun went down, and thebrief twilight soon faded into complete darkness, with-out even a moon. Naturally I lost my way. Therewere no people about, nor even a village light in thedistance. I had not the least idea where I was, and began tothink it extremely probable tha
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecthunting, bookyear1895
