The best shekarry I ever had was a Nepaulee called ‘Mehrman Singh.’  He had the regular Tartar physiognomy of the Nepaulese.  Small, oblique, twinkling eyes, high cheekbones, flattish nose, and scanty moustache.  He was a tall, wiry man, with a remarkably light springy step, a bold erect carriage, and was altogether a fine, manly, independent fellow.  He had none of the fawning obsequiousness which is so common to the Hindoo, but was a merry laughing fellow, with a keen love of sport and a great appreciation of humour.  His gun was fearfully and wonderfully made.  It was a long, heavy flint gun, with a tremendously heavy barrel, and the stock all splices and splinters, tied in places with bits of string.  I would rather not have been in the immediate vicinity of the weapon when he fired it, and yet he contrived to do some good shooting with it.

He was wonderfully patient in stalking an animal or waiting for its near approach, as he never ventured on a long shot, and did not understand our objection to pot-shooting.  His shot was composed of jagged little bits of iron, chipped from an old kunthee, or cooking-pot; and his powder was truly unique, being like lumps of charcoal, about the size of small raisins.  A shekarry fills about four or five fingers’ depth of this into his gun, then a handful of old iron, and with a little touch of English powder pricked in with a pin as priming, he is ready for execution on any game that may come within reach of a safe pot-shot.  When the gun goes off there is a mighty splutter, a roar like that of a small cannon, and the slugs go hurtling through the bushes, carrying away twigs and leaves, and not unfrequently smashing up the game so that it is almost useless for the table.

The Banturs, who principally inhabit these jungles, are mostly of Nepaulese origin.  They are a sturdy, independent people, and the women have fair skins, and are very pretty.  Unchastity is very rare, and the infidelity of a wife is almost unknown.  If it is found out, mutilation and often death are the penalties exacted from the unfortunate woman.  They wear one long loose flowing garment, much like the skirt of a gown; this is tightly twisted round the body above the bosoms, leaving the neck and arms quite bare.  They are fond of ornaments—­nose, ears, toes and arms, and even ancles, being loaded with silver rings and circlets.  Some decorate their nose and the middle parting of the hair with a greasy-looking red pigment, while nearly every grown-up woman has her arms, neck, and low down on the collar bone most artistically tattooed in a variety of close, elaborate patterns.  The women all work in the clearings; sowing, and weeding, and reaping the rice, barley, and other crops.  They do most of the digging where that is necessary, the men confining themselves to ploughing and wood-cutting.  At the latter employment they are most expert; they use the axe in the most masterly manner, but their mode of