then been sitting on the side of a bed, rose and caught the chief in his arms. The weight of his huge body moving quickly, at once overpowered the strength of the man who attempted to detain him, and both were about to fall to the ground; but a simultaneous rush along the passage brought the relations and friends into the room to assist, and witness a scene which struck all with horror and dismay. Cries of surprise and alarm burst from the men, shrieks from the women, the echo of which rang through the desolate house, and died away in the bleak and barren space around it. There was a momentary struggle; but suddenly the unwieldy carcass fell to the floor upon its face, and when lifted, a few drops of blood had stained the place where it lay. But life had fled, and the terrible brigand chief, Meo Varrone, was no more.

HOURS IN HINDOSTAN.

BY J. R. ADDISON.

THE ADJUTANT.

THE bird thus called may occasionally be seen in the booths of itinerant showmen in Europe; but, cooped up, dispirited, and shivering, it is as different from the magnificent adjutant that crowns the parapets of the Government House in Calcutta, or proudly watches over the barracks in Fort William, as

'I to Hercules.'

In their free state, (I will not say wild, for they are as domesticated as the dog or cat,) these splendid creatures stand about five feet high. To describe their figure and form would be superfluous. In their native country they strut about with a solemn, pompous step, seemingly as if aware of being held in much veneration. In fact, no one is allowed to molest them, under a fine of two gold mohurs for the first offence, and expulsion from India (if a European) for a repetition of it.

The reasons for the protection thus afforded to them, arise, in the first place, from their being looked upon as sacred birds' by the Indians; and in the second, from their very great utility in destroying vermin and venomous reptiles, and their constant habit of carrying off carrion and other filth. From the latter quality arises their sobriquet of Calcutta Scavengers.' Their military designation has been conferred on them from the very curious circumstance of their never remaining in any place where soldiers are not to be found. They will follow even treasure-parties for thousands of miles, and will take up their abode in the smallest cantonment or garrison. Although in the most populous city in Asia, no adjutant will abide, should the troops be removed from it even for a single day. Add to this his stately march, which never goes beyond ordering time, his long watchings which he keeps like a vigilant sentinel, his stiff carriage, &c., and you have the combined reasons for his being called the adjutant.'

In his free state he seldom rises high. He flies from house-top to house-top, till he sees some object on the ground worth his attention, when he suddenly descends to pick it up, and carries it back to his high perch. These birds have also a nasty habit of throwing their long legs perfectly horizontally from them, and skimming along about three feet from the earth, their heads poked out straight before them, neither looking nor turning to the right or to the left. Some few years ago, an unfortunate dobee (a washerman) was running along in front of the Staff-buildings in Fort William, when suddenly arriving at the corner, where the brigade-major's house stood, he came full butt upon an adjutant who was thus amusing himself. The bird was unable to check his flight, or alter his career, and the man, equally incapable of stopping, came into direct collision with him. The beak of the adjutant entered deep into the abdomen of the wretched native, who almost instantly expired. The force of one of these huge creatures, when on the wing, must be more than equal to the power of a horse.

The cadets, and many of the European soldiers quartered in the fort, amuse themselves by watching the proceedings of these eccentric birds, and playing them various tricks. One of the strangest sights I ever saw was the flight of an adjutant from the cadets' barrack, down a portion of the fort generally called Crows' Alley, from the myriads of these noisy birds that have built their nests there. He was sailing along, his long legs trailing behind him, when, as usual, his inveterate foes, the crows, attacked him, pecking away at his heels as he floated slowly through the air, unable to turn himself round upon them. In perfect security they pursued him, annoying him in every possible way, and only quitting him when he alighted for a moment on any tree or building. Unaware, however, of the approach of the adjutant, an unfortunate hoodie' suddenly left the branch on which it was roosting, and flew across the enormous bird's track. The adjutant gave one snap, and, to my astonishment, (for I declare upon my honour I saw him do it,) he with little or no difficulty swallowed the luckless crow whole! I was curious to ascertain, as there exists a difference of opinion on the subject, whether the object thus taken passes directly into the stomach or the large pouch under the beak. In this instance I can positively affirm, that it must have gone through the regular channels of digestion, the pouch retaining its usual size, seemingly empty and flabby.

One of my brother officers used to amuse himself frequently after tiffin by throwing down meat into the yard, upon which two or three adjutants were sure to pounce. He would at the same time let loose a little Scotch terrier, and enjoy the fight between the birds and the dog. At length one day, one of the former, more hungry than usual, snapped at Master Vic's leg, which broke like a twig in the bill of his gigantic antagonist. Charles Frazer cursed the bird; but, as curses don't mend dogs' broken legs, the poor animal was maimed for life, to the no small chagrin of its master.

Another and more cruel joke, often played off on these creatures, is to tie two tempting pieces of meat together by a string some four or five feet long. Several birds instantly descend, and before the first has had scarcely time to swallow one of the tempting baits, a second seizes on the other, and rising, as they always do when they have

obtained food, they find themselves attached together by the piece which each has swallowed; and then comes the grand struggle, to see which shall compel the other to disgorge, like the Scottish beggarboy that has gained his bawbee by three licks and a wallop. Very often the piece of meat thus rendered up is again seized on by another bird, and so on several times. I confess I looked upon this sport both as filthy and cruel.

The most dreadful instance of this kind, however, which came to my knowledge was the following trick played off by a European artilleryman. Having got permission to come into Calcutta, he went to visit some brother soldiers quartered in the fort, and, from mere idleness, began to teaze the adjutants. Several practical jokes had been exercised on these greedy birds, when suddenly, determining to eclipse all the tricks of his companions, he stole into the bobichi counar (kitchen), and selecting a well-picked marrow-bone, he bore it off, and filling it with powder, he affixed a slow match to it, and threw it down in front of a group of adjutants. In an instant it was seized and swallowed by one of them, who as instantly rose into the air with it. It had scarcely, however, ascended fifty feet from the earth when the powder exploded, and the wretched bird was blown to atoms, to the great amusement of the savage artilleryman.

These jokes, however, are sometimes attended with unpleasant results. Within a week afterwards this man paid somewhat dearly for his fun. A general court-martial was held upon him at Dum Dum, and he received, unpitied, I believe, by any one, six hundred Jashes, for one of the most wanton acts of cruelty ever inflicted on an unoffending animal.

THE TANK.

It is not an unusual practice in Bengal to bring up the children of your servants under your own roof, and, training them to servitude from their earliest age, make them, as soon as they are old enough, parts of your establishment. Natives thus brought up are not only found to be in general the best servants, but also the most attached. The wife of Tom Saunders, a good-hearted fellow, who lived in Writers' Buildings, had reared from extreme childhood the daughter of an old ayah (a nurse), who had died in her service. The girl thus brought up was about fourteen years of age when I first visited the family; and certainly, if ever I saw a beautiful native, she was the person I should have pointed out as that being. Her manner was mild and modest, her form perfect. Her love for her mistress was a something bordering on adoration; no wonder, then, that Mrs. Saunders prized her almost as her own child.

Some of my readers may not be aware that the Writers' Buildings of Calcutta stand in a part of the town called Tank Square, from the circumstance of the centre being occupied, like St. James's Square, in London, by a noble reservoir. As we have no pumps in the metropolis of Bengal, and few wells, the water used formerly to be taken from the river, and carried in goat-skins by the beestees (water-bearers) to the different houses of their masters. When, how

ever, Calcutta began to increase in size, this was found a terrible inconvenience, some parts of the city being nearly a mile from the stream; so, in course of time, they formed the present tank, about a quarter of a mile from the river, which supplies more than half the town with water.

One day, when I called on Saunders, I was rather astonished to hear that many natives, some few animals, together with several inanimate objects, had lately and unaccountably disappeared from the neighbourhood, and that on the preceding day the body of a black man had been discovered in the square dreadfully mangled, evidently destroyed by some ferocious beast of prey. The marks of the wound did not correspond with those which could have been inflicted by a jackal's tooth; nor was it possible, even in its most dreadful state of starvation, that such an animal would dare to attack a human being. A tiger could scarcely be in the city unknown. What animal, then, could thus have fallen upon and destroyed the unfortunate man? It was a question which every one asked, but no one could solve. Considerably mystified, I left the house, promising to call on the following morning.

In compliance with my pledge, my palanquin jolted up to Writers' Buildings the next day. The family were in a state of agony and terror beyond my power to describe. Jumma (the girl of whom I have already spoken) had disappeared. She had left the house at five in the morning to draw some water for her mistress; since that hour (it was now three o'clock in the afternoon) she had not been seen or heard of. To suppose she had wilfully deserted from the service of her she loved so well, to fancy she had been persuaded to elope, was beyond belief. Her fate was wrapped in mystery. Like a true Englishman, I instantly suggested that she might have committed suicide; not that she had any cause to urge her to such an act; but, as this dreadful crime more often arises from sudden madness than any premeditated scheme, I could not help thinking that the poor girl might have destroyed herself during an attack of temporary insanity.

Saunders instantly sent punes (messengers) off in all directions but each returned, after a short search, without hearing of the unfortunate Jumma. As a last resource, by my advice, it was settled that on the following evening the tank in the middle of the square should be dragged. I agreed to superintend the operation, and accordingly repaired to the spot at the time appointed.

At least a hundred men were in attendance with drag-nets, not of small meshes like ours, but strong and large ones, made of very thick cord. The signal was given, and the sweeping commenced. For a time nothing opposed their exertions. At length a jerk, a sudden plunge almost tore the nets from their hands. The natives stood aghast, as they were fully aware that there could be no large fish in this reservoir; but, by dint of scolding, and the offer of an extra sum, I persuaded them to drop in still stronger tackle, and continue to drag the pond. It was soon evident that they had something extraordinary in their power, which, if allowed to remain longer in its proper element, might manage to get away. I therefore desired them instantly to haul the captive they had made on shore: This they did after some difficulty. No words can describe the alarm of the poor Indians, or my astonishment on finding that they

1

had entangled within their nets an alligator some fourteen feet long!

How this animal could have got into the tank was, indeed, a puzzle to every one. That it should have been generated in this pond was highly improbable; that it should have existed for so long a time (it was at least six or seven years old,) undiscovered, was almost impossible. Yet the only other position was equally astounding, namely, that it had crawled through half the town, and travelled unseen from the river to the reservoir. On these heads there was a general difference of opinion; which party was right Heaven alone can tell. Suffice it to say, that the monster was soon despatched, and taken out of the nets. He was cut up before us all. With sickening horror I looked on; but when I saw a human arm dragged from its inside, when I beheld, and actually recognized the bangles of poor Jumma still encircling it, I could bear no more. I had not even courage to communicate the fact to Saunders. I jumped into my palanquin, and darted off to the fort, sick, and disgusted in body and mind.

THE SNAKE-CHARMER.

I CONFESS, when I heard that the snake-charmer had arrived in the cantonment I was quite delighted. Curious beyond measure to behold a specimen of his powers, I repaired early to the Commandant's, where I had agreed to breakfast, and afterwards became one of the spectators of his attempts to entrap, by fascination, some of these reptiles. It had long been suspected that Colonel E's garden was infested by more than one of these dreaded monsters; we therefore repaired thither, where we found the juggler awaiting us. The man had nothing extraordinary in his appearance-nothing attractive in his eye or manner. He was as common a looking native as I had ever seen. To what caste these people belong I know not; I rather suspect a very low caste.

When we entered the enclosure, we at once desired him to set about his task, which he did thus:-He placed himself immediately in front of the hole in which one of the serpents was supposed to lurk, placing at the same time a kedgeree-pot (an earthen jar) near him, and desiring his assistant to cover the reptile with it on a certain signal being given. He then took from his kumerband (sash) a small pipe, which he instantly began to play on, in a style which, I confess, seemed to me anything but likely to charm. Its noise was that of the smallest and shrillest-sized fife, only differing from that instrument in being played upon at the end, in the same manner as a flageolet. The tune he performed was monotonous and disagreeable.

For about ten minutes the piping of our juggler, which he accompanied with strange contortions, had no effect, and we were once or twice on the point of turning away, when he entreated us by his looks to remain, and watch the result. At the end of that time we could see, by the fixedness of the man's eye, that he saw his victim approaching; in another instant the head of a large cobra capella peered from the hole. We naturally shrank back. The