Rifle and Spear with the Rajpoots. By Mrs. Alan Gardner.
(Chatto and Windus.)—This "Narrative of a Winter's Travel and Sport in Northern India" is one of the most charming volumes that we have ever seen. Mrs. Gardner does not spend much time on her journey. At p. 7 she has reached Kurrachee, and at p. 22 Rampur, a town in a State tributary to Kashmere, and close to the hunting-grounds which were to be first attacked. The sport itself seems not to have been of a first-rate quality. There were many disappointments, especially in the matter of big game. Here is an extract from the diary :—" Oct. 24th. Alan started up the hill at four this morning—pitch dark and very cold. He re- turned to luncheon, and bad only seen one small stag of about eight points, which they could just make out with the telescope, feeding on the opposite hillside. In the evening he went out again, but without success." It has been found necessary to establish a " close " time to prevent the total extirpation of the deer. But it must be very difficult to enforce. Where the native ruler is in earnest, however, it can be done. At Johdpore Sir Pertab Singh has preserved wild-boars to such good purpose that it is the best place for pig-sticking in India. Sometimes game was obtained, a big bear, for instance, was shot in the Maharajah of Uri's preserve, and another at Kotah, near the end of the journey. Winged game was commonly abundant. But the chief charm and interest of the volume lies in the description of life and manners. Mrs. Gardner's humorous and kindly gossip about the ways of her humble companions, the shikari, the cooks, the ayab, who seems to have been anything but a help, and the rest, is most entertaining. Then she has a good deal to tell us about the higher class, the Rajahs and others, who entertained her and her husband. The mingling of mag- nificence and what we should call squalor in their surroundings is sometimes very curious. Of all the native princes whom she
saw, the Maharajah of Chamba and his brother seem to have been the best. He is a quite admirable ruler.
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