Of gun and rifle celebrity some forty-five years ago, we particularly hear of Tiger Shirreff, Tiger Apthorp, Vivian, Humffreys, Boddam, and Backhouse, the famed Bengal foxhunter. Boddam (Madras Cavalry) heard of Lord Kennedy's famous match, and he resolved to emulate it. He accordingly did the distance from Arcot to the Tinnery tank, Wallajahbad-forty or more miles-driving, riding, and walking, and returning in the same manner, bringing back with him fifty-two couple of snipe, in the incredible short space of twelve hours, within which time he was dining at the mess. Killing a tiger on foot was by no means an uncommon occurrence in the old days. Such men as Apthorp,* Humffreys (who was killed by a tiger), Shirreff, and Christie, with others of our own time, are hardly to be trifled with either in the forest or on the battle field. We observe that the last named gallant colonel has recently left Madras for England; and we much regret that the Presidency tiger-slayer's exploits have never been fully detailed in a Madras sporting periodical. Well-known heroes of the turf of a past age in India are summed up in the names of Shepherd, Hall, Gash, Parker, and Salter. They are equally renowned as jockeys. As hunters, whether with hound or spear, John Elliott and Backhouse are never to be forgotten. But we should mention that some of the chief turf men in Bengal were Stevenson, Bacon, Grant, and John White. Stevenson was the father of the turf in that Presidency, while Macdowell-well-known as Arab Mac-claimed the honour in Madras.t Duncan Mackenzie (who enjoyed the turf sobriquet of Mr. North), Edward Gullifer Showers, of the Artillery, and the two Macleans, were chief among the glorious old "Mulls" who in their day shed glory o'er the turf, as Cunningham (Cavalry) did in Bombay. As Nelson wished for a Gazette all to himself, so those turfites, with the other sportsmen already brought forward, might well have claimed an extraordi *We have just read that General East Apthorp, C.B., K.S.F., died at Tunbridge Wells, March 3, aged 69. 66 He's +["Arab Mac" always kept some twenty or thirty horses in his stable ; and the Griffin, or needy officer, wanting a charger," knew where to go for the value of his money. Arab Mac's way of doing business was something in the following style: "Ye want a horse, Mr. Robinson; now here's a fine Persian" (or it might be an Arab) "which cost me 400 rupees. been in my stable a month; so I shall only charge ye 6 rupees for the Ghorawallah's (horsekeeper's) pay, 3 for the grass-cutter, 3 for gram, and one rupee for shoeing, with a rupee for heel-ropes, and the horse is yours for 415 rupees!" This speech delivered with a strong Scotch accent, was highly characteristic of the kind-hearted Anglo-Indian sportsman.] nary magazine or review to chronicle all their brilliant sporting achievements. And are not the pages of the Bombay (Oriental) Sporting Magazine adorned with the illustrious names of those equine sons of the desert-the last, alas! of the genuine ones-Pyramid, Chapeau de Paille, Feramors, Salonica, Paul Pry, Sackcloth, Hurry Skurry, and a host of others well known to its able editor? Although far from wishing to be guilty of the too common folly of crying up the past at the expense of the present, still we cannot help exclaiming, so far as sporting in India is concerned, Where are now the horses? and, more important still, Where are the men? The ghost of an Outram on Ariel, or of a Pottinger on Selim, answers, Where? Heu, quanto minus est cum reliquis versari quam tui meminisse. Colonel Davidson in his "Travels " gives some valuable information on Anglo-Indian gastronomy. This amusing, sprightly traveller, when he weighed less than nineteen stone, must have been a veritable sportsman. His discourse on the cours gastronomique, while officiating as chef de cuisine and excelling in making rich bread sauce for partridges, found its way into our most celebrated Indian periodical (the Calcutta Review); and, as we know some admirable Indian Nimrods who are very good cooks, the following extract, commencing in rare Johnsonian style, may be received with gratitude by our readers : 'Bleak and barren indeed must that spot be where the eye of a soundhearted and skilful gastronomist cannot discover matter for thankfulness! For him does sad and solitary Ascension gather together her luscious and indescribable turtle; for him the dark rocks and arid plains of the dry Deccan, produce their purple grapes, and cunning but goodly bustard; for him burning Bundelkund its wonderful rock pigeon and ortolan inimitable; the Jumna, most ancient of rivers, its large rich kala banse and tasty crabs; for him yields the long and marshy Teraee her elegant florican; the mighty Gunga its melting mâhâseer; the Goomtee its exquisite mullet." Long may such gastronomists as the colonel be able to prepare a tiffin for Indian sportsmen! and long may the periodicals exist which endeavour to chronicle their triumphs in ministering to the appetites of men who, as soldiers and statesmen, may deserve well of their country! "a Having alluded to the pursuit of the "grey boar" as such splendid sport, and such hunting in India having formed the theme of so many exciting descriptions in magazines and newspapers, it may not be out of place, before taking leave of ". sounder of wild hog," to remark that the chief difference between hog hunting in Bengal, and in the Bombay Presidency and the "Hyderabad Deccan," is in "the nature of the ground ridden over, the length of the spear used, and the way it is carried,” the dif ference of lengths and the system of using the weapon being accounted for "by the difference of grounds and the habits of the animal."* Let us then sing once more— "So here's to all who fear no fall, * Col. Shakespear's "Wild Sports of India," p. 33. 231 APPENDIX. I. LORD PALMERSTON AND SIR ALEXANDER BURNES. [The following extracts from correspondence between Lord Palmerston and Dr. Burnes, relating to his brother Sir Alexander, are of interest. After a few letters the correspondence ceased, his lordship remarking that the opinions expressed were "those which he entertained, and the observations which he made were those which presented themselves to his mind." Those opinions his lordship still entertained, and those observations he was "not prepared to retract."] MY LORD, 1. J. BURNES TO LORD PALMERSTON. 40, Ladbroke Square, W., March 25, 1861. I beg to transmit to your Lordship the enclosed extract, from the report in the Evening Standard of Wednesday last, of your speech in the debate of the preceding evening, and to ask the favour of your informing me if it be correct. Should it be so, I would explain that, although Lord Auckland disapproved of my brother's money arrangements with Candahar, yet shortly after his proceedings were reported to England, your Home Government distinguished him by knighthood and a lieutenantcolonelcy; and that in announcing these honours to him, the Governor-General himself made the following frank avowal : "Simla, November, 5th, 1838. "My dear Sir,-I cordially congratulate you upon the public proofs of approbation with which you have been marked at home. My private letters speak in high terms of your proceedings in Cabul; and I may in candour mention, that upon the one point upon which there was some difference between usthe proposed advance of money to Candahar―opinions for which I have the highest respect, are in your favour. I do not grudge you this, and am only glad that a just tribute has been paid to your ability and indefatigable zeal." I would also point out-in reference to the statement that "Sir Alexander Burnes was taken to task for having communicated, while in Afghanistan, to the Indian newspapers, information with which he was entrusted on account of the Government, a reproof" (your Lordship is alleged to add) "of which Sir A. Burnes was well deserving," that the Parliamentary Blue Book, page 98, distinctly disproves the same, and shows that it was one of my brother's subordinate officers, and not himself, who had indiscreetly communicated the said information, thereby incurring his disapprobation as well as that of the Governor-General, who, if I mistake not, took advantage of the occasion to compliment Sir Alexander Burnes on his well-known discretion. Should this newspaper report be substantially correct, your Lordship will doubtless see the necessity of making the explanation I have furnished, in the place where the statements were made, seeing that, as they stand, they can have but one effect -that of depreciating the character and services of Sir Alexander Burnes. I have the honour to be, my Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient Servant, The Right Hon. Viscount Palmerston, K.G., M.P., etc. "In a despatch written by the Governor-General of India he found fault with Sir A. Burnes for having entered into an arrangement with the Queen of Candahar, by which he committed the Indian Government beyond what he had authority to do. The Governor-General said he would not call upon him to make a public disavowal, but that he must take an opportunity of showing that the Indian Government were not prepared to make good the engagements which Sir A. Burnes had said that Government would enter into. So, with regard to Runjeet Singh, it had to be intimated to him that the policy of the Indian Government was not that which Sir A. Burnes recom |