The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-15
THE JAWS OF DEATH.
BY AN ENGLISH ARMY OFFICER.

BY AN ENGLISH ARMY OFFICER.
Buchapore is a quaint, isolated little
place, situated in that portion OF Her
Britannia Maiesty's Eastern dominions
known as Bengal proper. 1t is gari-
soned by solitary regiment of irregular
cavalry, possessing also civil surgeon.
q collector OF junior magistrate, and a
missionary. Being quite out of the
beaten track, 1t is naturally the quintes-
sence of dullness and the abode Of the
foul find ea7ani. Three years in this be-
nighted spot are almost equivalent
to sojourning for the same period on a
desert isle, and any regiment under such
ban is always cordially commiserated.
To this unblessed region it was my
bad fortune to return after two years
furlough. Myleave had been spent in the
very heart of civilization, partly on the
Continent, and partly in our own tight
little island. The contrast between the
life had led and that in prospect nearly
drove me to despair. There was but one
faint gleam of hope. My friend Jack
darlington, an enthusiastic sportsman,
wrote that it was splendid shooting
country.
Jack, who was the LATEST beggar aiive,
would never have troubled himself to
put pen to paper but for that potent
lever which rarely fails TO move mems
minds-to wit, seh-interest. He wanted
q rifle and supply of ammunition,
which he asked me to buy aud bring ont.
did as requested, taking care TO stock
myself pretty completely at the same
time.
We never talk of winter in the plains
of India, but luckily it was the middle
of the cold weather when 1 arrived, so
my journey was pleasantly cool. The
last eighty miles were traversed i'll a
doolie-palanquin
/ reached the outskirts of Buchapore
at about q. m. My first impressions
of the place were decidedly favorable.
Instead of an arid waste, with nothi1g 2
ia break its blank monotony save here
and there q stunted tree or sickly briar,
and occasionally the white washed grave
of an ancient Mussulman, with perchance
at long intervals tope-plantation of
mango trees, found myself jogging
steadily along the banks of wide river,
the crystal waters of which, especially
inviting to one weary and travel-stained,
tempted me to battle in their cool
depths.
The pearly heavens welcomed the ris-
ing sun with faint blush. A soft blue
haze in the far distance presently re-
solved itself into a range of low mills.
Trees full of bud and blossom were
planted at regular intervals by the way
side, affording pleasant shade, and scent
ing the air with their sweetness.
Amongst them in abundance was the ba-
bool-acacia- fragrant flowers Of
which resemble tiny ball of golden
moss, and are so faithfully and untiring-
ly copied by the jewelers. of famous
Delhi. The path was carpeted with thick,
soft turf, and from amidst its rich green
peeped timidly myriads of small wild
flowers.
"Come," said l, "give a dog bad
name and hang him. Buchapore is be-
lied. At all events / shall find some
pretty bits for my sketch-book. Hi l''
to the doolie bearers" how far are
we from the station now?"
"About three miles," was the re
sponse-of course in the vernecular.
In about another half hour was land
ed at the door of our mess, where met
with a cordial greeting from my old
brothers in arms.
Travellers by the ancient and honor
able method of palanquin dak--post-
are obliged to content themselves with
as little baggage as possible. What they
do take is packed in boxes of various
shapes and sizes, which are placed in
wooden frames to avoid breakage, and
called 11itorohs. These are slung one to
each end of a long pole, and carried
across mans shoulders, after the
fashion of milk-pails, and called
bhanghy. Bound to these restrictions,
/ was forced to leave my heavy baggage
at the nearest line of rail, to be forward
ed by bullock-cart.
Now Indian bullocks-albeit very use
full animals in their way-will not fol
any consideration whatever perform
more than stated distance per day
They may be fem otel with the choicest
food, beaten aud tricked, but, lean OF
fat, they will not bulge when once they
have performed their usual task. Know
ing this, Jack and j anxiously counted
the days which must elapse before th,
arrival of our much-coveted shooting
mlterial.