evident marks of trepidation, and slinks back from his approach; the gestures of the man now become more violent, and being accompanied by a copious discharge of pebbles, and a still more hideous shout, cause the affrighted animal to seek safety by a hasty retreat; and no sooner is the tiger's back turned to the crawling man, than a signal being given by his voice, the whole band of workmen join in a continued cry, until the poor trembling brute is far beyond the reach of its supposed pursuer. So expert are the men engaged in this employ, that they have no hesitation in going into the most wild and lonely jungles, as this method was never known to fail of sending away the beasts of prey around them.

An officer of a native regiment was conducting an escort with treasure through a wild part of the country, when a tiger unexpectedly sprang upon the officer, and would have taken him off, had it not been for the cool and determined bravery of a sepoy who was near him at the time. This man charged the tiger with his fixed bayonet, and with a furious thrust pierced the animal just below the shoulder bone, at the moment he seized his commander. The tiger let go his hold, and ran forward; the sepoy clung to his musket, and ran forward too, giving the infuriated animal no opportunity of retaliation, by keeping the bayonet still fixed in the wound, until in a few minutes the tiger fell dead at his feet, and the poor fellow had the satisfaction of saving the life of his officer, as

well as of receiving promotion for the fidelity and courage which he displayed. With Europeans the sepoys are always most courageous; but if left to themselves they seem to doubt their own sufficiency, and thus, through diffidence, often fail of achieving that which, under the command of European officers, at other times they would easily perform. Of all soldiers, the sepoy is most attentive to the orders given, and strict in the literal fulfilment of them; of this several instances came under my own knowledge. An officer of high rank lived in an elegant house, in the midst of a large pleasure ground, and as he was on the staff, and in an official situation, a guard was stationed on the premises, and a centinel posted before the house. Orders were given by the officer, that the sepoy on duty should prevent any person, except his lady and children, from walking across the lawn, out of the regular path. It was not long after this order was issued, before the sentinel observed the officer himself walking across the grass plat in the front of the house, when he marched up to him and declared that he must not walk there, as his orders were to let no person, except the lady and the children, pass that way. It was in vain that the commander of the station told him that the order was issued by himself, and so forth, as the sepoy still persisted in declaring, that his hookham was that no person whatever, except the lady and children, was to promenade there, and the officer, smiling at the literal interpretation

given by the sentinel, went to the guard-room and ordered that he himself might also have permission to cross the lawn; and I believe the sentinel was soon after made a naick, or corporal. Another instance, which might have proved of the most serious consequence, occurred at the hospital at Dinapore. At a time when great mortality prevailed, a sentinel was posted at the entrance of what is called the dead room, where the bodies. are placed soon as life is extinct; and amongst other local orders he was directed not to let the bodies be taken away during the night. It so happened that a young man had fallen into a sort of trance, which had been mistaken for death, and had, during the evening, been removed to the dead house. In the course of the night he recovered so far as to know the situation in which he was placed, and summoning all his strength, he came to the door, with an intention of crossing the little court to the hospital; but not without being perceived by the sentinel, who, although he was evidently much alarmed, yet declared his hookham was, that no dead man should go from the place that night, therefore he must go back; and on the poor young man's attempting to pass by him, he very deliberately carried him back and fastened the door, until the relief guard came, when he reported that a dead man wished to come out, but that he had detained him, according to his orders. The naick immediately opened the door, and tak

ing him up in his arms, carried him to a bed in the hospital, and then summoned the steward to his aid, when by means of proper treatment the youth recovered, and was in a short time able to perform his duties as before, after having literally been numbered with the dead.

CHAPTER XIII.

"With gallant pomp and beauteous pride
The floating pile in harbour rode;
Proud of her freight, the swelling tide
Reluctant left the vessel's side,

And rais'd it as it flow'd.

A GREAT number of buffaloes are to be found in Bengal, both tame and wild. The former are very useful hard-working animals, the latter the most formidable foe you can encounter, as the experience of hundreds has testified. I was passing down the river from Dinapore to Calcutta, when I was unexpectedly brought into company with about a dozen of these terrific animals; but happily suc