The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-10-26
DOOLAN'S TIGER HUNT.
AN EAST INDIAN STORY.

AN EAST indian STORY.
Two # us were viking GNCn the
KoraiaRass, my friend FairlegfAnd I.
one morning early in FEBRUARY, 1850.
was on my way to Bombay, to catch the
mail steamer that was to convey me
back to old England, sfter m absence of
FIVE years. during which ! suffered much
hardship and exposure in the memorable
Indian mutiny, and was now bundled
out of the country as last as | could 90
with a years leave on half pay, and a
medical certificate which made out that
| was nearly ia drticulO mOrtis.
At two stages from NagpOre. I met
with my old friend FairEgh. and. after
staying one night with him, he accom-
panied me as far a. the first dak bungaI
low towards Nagpore, that of koraie.
As we stood on the top on the pass and
looked over the varied landscape of miles
upon miles of dark forest, intersected by
numerous jungle streams that lay
beneath us, and upon the little village
lying at the foot of the ghaut we were
descending, my friend said:
Z" | never come down to KOraie with
out thinking of trick we played on a
young Irishman, belonging to a detach-
ment which marched through here year
or two ago, on their way to some station
in Madras. The officers were a very Jolly
hospital set of fellows, and one was an
old acquaintance of mine, and whilst we
were in company, which was for three or
four days, they insisted on my Joining
them at mess. The first meal / took
with them was breakfast, and there was
], h. Il.
table. Now | never touch pig in any
shape or way in this country, so l was
not going to be tempted but my friend
Mac seeing me looking at it, advised me
not to try it, as one of them had shot a
wild pig a week before, and its mex
haustible properties were beginning to
create a shadow of doubt.
Here, Naidoo, what pig Is that ?'
called out Mac to the mess butler, a fat,
oily-loOking Madrassee, who grinned as
he replied
81 That pig, sir? Why, that pig Cap'in
ANDERSEN KILN way up the Jungle dar ~
q" You rascal, L believe this pig never
saw the outside of this village"
Mi bapre, sahib, what fur masta tin6
I make cookin' bazar pig that fashin ?
No, sar that Cap'in Andersen pig got
i'm plenty yet--he big as one buffer ="
However, l laughingly remarked, that
it was all the same TO me, for ! never
partook of pig in any shape or form in
India.
d" What, not a cut of a nice ham OF q
rasher from a tin of overland bacon ?
Bedad, We wouldn't be after refusin' that,
would yep broke in a red-haired little
man opposite, whose speech BETRAYED
him as a native of the sister island
Not even home rasher would tempt
me out here. In the first place, it Is not
a fit food for a tropical climate; and
secondly, ii is looked upon with universal
adherence by all around"
''Ah, Is it the naytives, We name ?
Well, then, I'd ate it to spite m,
would"
Well, if there were any moral prln-
ciples involved in it, would do so too {;
but in the absence of such inducements |
would, as | have to mix much with all
classes of natives, rather not depreciate
the esteem in which l might be held.
especially as I am strict with them in
matters concerning their own religion. "
" Faith, an what is it We have to do
with their religion ?-if they have any,
the bastes -
90 You had better not enter into a con.
troversy with Fairlegh about religion.
Doolan He's a mulvie and pundit ali
rolled into one" said Mac; " and you've
precious little knowledge of any, except
what the p 2. of XIII EN- by-inches, or
whatever you call your paternal place,
taught you by help of a broomstick."
- Killinchy, Killinchy, We omadhaun,
an it's Castle DOolan We name when We
speak of me paternal home"
An right, my boy" replied Mac
winking at me. g say, Fairlegh, shall
we hove look around the track nd see
if the>Ss, are any snipe?"
81 have no objection" I eplied, ris-
ing; and we went out together.
Now, look here, Fairlegh," said
Macpherson, when we were out in the
open. g want to play Doolan a trick,
and you can help me. 1t will do him
lot of good, for of all the bumptious, do
everything, know-everything fellows
ever came across, this one beats them all.
We have long been on the lookout for an
opportunity for taking rise out of him,
and now think you can assist u.s."
" Well" / answered, " am not much
given to practical jokes, but what is it /
can do"
"Do? I'll tell you what to do. I've got
a grand idea. You know that nasty old
cantankerous camel you haventhat roars
Whenever any one goes withluA twenty
yardU5f him? Well, l want yoL 70 post
him somewhere on a jungle road tonight,
and then, at mess, we will begin to talk
about tigers. Doolan is sure to contra
dict everything that is said, and to deny,
as he has been doing, that there is tiger
between Allahabad and Nagpore and
thus we'll persuade him to come out, land
L am sure he'll bolt the moment he hears
the camel"
There appeared to be no great harm IN
the trick, and [ thought it might be
good lesson To the young fellow, who was
an addle-brained rattlepate, and rather a
nuisance IN the regiment; so our plans
were laid. The camel was an extraordl-
marty surly one; the mere sound OF
fOotstep in his vicinity was enough to
make him growl and roar in their pecu-
liar way. l did not care to send him
very far out, for Keraie is q tigerish
place, and l did not want the tables
turned on me by losing my camel; so L
told the driver to post him in thicket
by the roadside about mile out OF the
village.
Well, at mess that evening our friend
was in high feather; he condemned this
thing and praised that. and laid down
the law like chief justice. and all the
time my little friend Mac was winking at
those who were let into the secret, and
chuckling to himself with delight.
D." Dinner over, most of the party, in-
Guiding the victim adjourned TO my tent,
where there was bright fire, and coffee
and chocolate for those who liked such
things. and grog for the Others who liked
something stronger. We drew our chairs
round the fire, and Mac began the cam
Paign.
say, Fairlegb, any tigers about