The Two-Year-Old Stakes, always interesting from its bearing on future events, was the next contest, and produced a field of ten at the post, out of twenty-five subs.: 2 3 Duke of Cleveland's br. c. Brother to Euclid, by Emilius out of Maria (T. Lye).. 1 Lord Westminster's br. c. Launcelot, by Camel out of Banter (W. Scott)... Mr. Howard's ch. c. Fitzroy, by Belshazzar out of Ellen by Starch (J. Marson) The following not placed:-Lord Kelburne's ch. c. by Retainer out of Emilia (G. Nelson); Mr. Bell's b. f. La Femme Sage, by Gainsborough out of Golden-drop's dam (R. Heseltine); Mr. Osbaldeston's ch. f. by Belshazzar, dam by Whalebone (P. Connelly); Mr. Bowes's br. c. Black Beck, by Mulatto out of Emma by Whisker (S. Templeman); Duke of Cleveland's ch. c. by Langar out of Emigrant's dam (J. Day); Mr. Parkin's br. c. Naworth, by Liverpool (H. Edwards); and Mr. C. M. St. Paul's b. f. Calypso, by Liverpool (J. Cartwright), Betting: 5 to 2 agst Launcelot, 3 to 1 agst Naworth, 3 to 1 agst Emigrant's dam colt, 4 to 1 agst Lord Kelburne's colt, and 6 to 1 agst Fitzroy. After two or three false starts they got off, but not very well, Lord Kelburne's colt and Fitzroy taking the lead, Launcelot, Naworth, La Femme Sage, and Black Beck being close at their sides, the Emigrant's dam colt not getting well off and being in the rear unable to get up, and Brother to Euclid in the rear centre of the ruck. In this order they all went to near the distance, when Launcelot challenged Lord Kelburne's colt, Mr. Osbaldeston's filly lying close to them, and Brother to Euclid following close in the wake of Launcelot. In a few strides further the four commenced the battle for victory, which the Brother to Euclid won (beautifully ridden by Lye) by only half a neck, after a splendid race. Fitzroy, who was third, was only beaten by a neck from the second, so that the front rank ones would appear to be altogether, as regards quality, not good evidence of superiority. Now came the finale and great event of the day, the Cup, for which four (three of them the best horses in the country) shewed : ..................... ...... 2 3 Major Yarburgh's br. c. Charles XII., by Voltaire out of Laurel's dam, 3 yrs (T.Lye), 1 Mr. Ramsay's br. c. Lanercost, by Liverpool, 4 yrs (J. Cartwright).. Mr. Orde's b. m. Bee's-wing, by Dr. Syntax, 6 yrs (J. Holmes) Mr. Denham's b. c. Compensation, 4 yrs (Templeman) The winner of the Leger, notwithstanding his two previous severe contests, was the favorite at 6 to 4 on him; 2 to 1 agst Bee's-wing, and 5 to 1 agst Lanercost. Soon after starting Bee's-wing took the lead at a pace which was of so severe a character that it appeared almost impossible she or any other animal could sustain it to the end. Lanercost followed second, Charles XII. third, and Compensation last (a place which he never could remove himself from throughout the race). In this order they ran at a tremendous pace to the hill, when Charles took the second position. The mare, however, sailed away down the hill, leading her horses two or three lengths up to the Red House Corner, where Charles, Bee's-wing, and Lanercost closed, and ran together to the distance. Here Bee's-wing dropped behind, dead beat; and then a third edition of the Leger struggle ensued between Charles and Lanercost, which, after a head and head contest, in which every energy was called into operation, Charles was declared the winner a second time by only a head, after one of the most splendid races ever seen. -Charles XII. is certainly a great fine horse, 16 hands high, and was bred by his worthy owner, Major Yarburgh, of Heslington Hall, near York, who possesses a fine yearling, own brother to him, which he has named Charles the Tenth; his dam being also in foal again to Voltaire. Friday. Although fairesh weather, the Stand and Course were almost deserted: indeed we never saw a thinner attendance. The Hornby Castle Stake Cardinal Puff (W. Scott) won in a canter, beating Easingwold (W. Day).—2 to 1 on Puff, who was never headed. The Scarborough Stake.-One mile. ......... 2 3 Colonel Cradock's br. c. The Provost, by The Saddler out of Rebecca (S. Templeman) ........ 1 ........ 2 .... 3 ........... 4 The Park Hill Stakes, originating after the fashion of the Epsom Oaks, and named after the residence of Col. St. Leger, the founder of the St. Leger Stakes, out of an entry of fifteen fillies brought out five. Mr. Bowes's ch. Mickleton Maid, by Velocipede out of Maid of Lune (W. Scott) .............. 1 Colonel Craufurd's b. Dolphin, Sister to Sinbad, by Priam out of Mermaid (J. Holmes) Mr. Smith's br. Margaret, by Margrave out of Sister to Memnon by Whisker (R. Heseltine) Lord Derby's ch. Imogene, by Langar, dam by Whisker (T. Lye) Duke of Richmond's b. Reel, by Camel out of La Danseuse by Blacklock (J. Day) ............ 5 Dolphin was the favorite fish at 6 to 4 agst him: 5 to 2 agst Margaret. -Imogene made all the running to the Red House, when they all closed except Reel, who never had a chance in the race; and, after a pretty race between Mickleton Maid and Dolphin, the former won cleverly by about a neck. The Town Plate then closed the week's sport, being won at four heats by Opera (T. Lye) beating Humphrey, Memento, and Juvenile, and which protracted the day's sport until the shades of evening dawned upon all the assemblage. Thus ended the Doncaster Meeting, which comprised twenty Stakes, for which Scott rode nine times successfully by the ending post, and T. Lye, seven times, taking nearly all the gold to themselves. ALFRED HIGhflyer. Doncaster, September 23, 1839. PHEASANT SHOOTING. Engraved by G. PATERSON from a Painting by F. C. Turner. We know not which to admire most, the design of the painter or the exquisite touches of the graver. The scene represents two Knights of the Trigger discussing some creature-comforts to enable them to pursue their vocation with additional vigor. The scene naturally brings to mind the beautiful lines of Pope, in his "Windsor Forest," with this difference, that the "lordly bird" is here laid low, instead of towering on "triumphant wings." "See from the brake the whirring pheasant springs, Short is his joy! he feels the fiery wound, His purple crest, and scarlet-circled eyes, His painted wings, and breast that flames with gold!" GLADLY did we leave our frail skiff, and, scrambling up the rugged banks of the Lake, expected to find a termination to all our troubles under the shelter of our canvas, or rather cotton, walls: grievous, therefore, was our disappointment on beholding the state our little camp had been reduced to by the late storm. Little apprehending bad weather at this time of the year, the Lascars had pitched their tents in their usual careless manner; the consequence was, that, with one exception, they were all prostrate on the ground. The grass huts of the Natives had been scattered to the winds of Heaven; of them not a vestige remained; and on our arrival we found the only surviving tent crowded with all our attendants and followers. Our first care was to have this our last place of refuge secured against any further invasion of the storm. A trench was immediately dug, the tent pegs bushed *, and all the ropes hauled taught. We next began to think of getting dry apparel, which we with difficulty obtained; and these points settled down with a stiffener of grog, we made up our minds to pass the night as best we could. Never did any tenement present a more motley assemblage of inmates than did our tent on that eventful night: coolies and bullock drivers, their wives and children, servants and seapoys, were all admitted under our hospitable roof, barely sufficient to contain the multitude, which, so closely pent up amidst a mass of wet canvas and cloths, soon began to ferment and smoke like a dunghill on a frosty morning, and, similar to that useful article, sent up fumes differing slightly from attar of roses or lavender water. It may, therefore, be supposed that the first dawn of day was gladly hailed by at least the European part of the community, and a glorious morning it was; the unclouded sun rose with unusual splendor, the air was cool, and all Nature appeared revived and renovated by its late convulsion. The forenoon was busily employed in rebuilding our city, which, unlike that of Rome, was completed long before the approach of evening, and everything went on smoothly for several days-the Natives. enjoying the repose of a long halt, with its concomitant of Black man's fun (sleep), whilst we no less enjoyed the toils of the chase, which, in that deep and boundless forest, amply repaid all our exertions. The amusements of both were, however, soon to have an end: a malignant fever made its appearance in the camp, at first partially amongst the followers, till, rapidly extending, it at last attacked our head and Chief, M—. He manfully fought against it at first, disliking the idea of quitting his post, but at last we prevailed on him to leave the charge of the survey to D-, and hasten into Cantonments, whither G- and myself proposed to accompany him. * A plan of preventing the tent pegs from giving way in wet weather by burying round them twigs and branches of trees. VOL. XIX. SECOND SERIES.-No. 114. 3 I Placing him in his palkee, we took the nearest road out of the jungles, and, proceeding by the hill fort of Zafferghur, shortly afterwards emerged into the open country, where we considered ourselves comparatively at home. Home! that magic and sweetest of words, which conveys instantaneously to the exiled Briton visions of the days of his youth-of the snug fireside-loving parents and dear friends and associates! It is the hope of again enjoying these blessings which enables him to bear up against the desert's heat, the storms of the ocean, and the deadly effects of a pestilential clime. Such, reader, may have been thy feelings if ever it has been thy fate to be separated by half the span of this terrestrial globe from those thou holdest dearest on it! Still even to the exiled pilgrim in a foreign land there is a second home, which, like the false dawn in the East, though it possess not the full lustre of the real Aurora, gladdens the eyes of the wanderer in the night of his exile-I mean, the abode and associates endeared to us in a foreign clime by habit, a similarity of pursuits, and a common destiny. In such a channel ran my thoughts on ascending the steep and high mass of granite, at the foot of which stands the village of Goolencondah, where we had halted for the day. The shelving ascent towards the village is so precipitous that we were fain to creep up barefooted the smooth and slippery surface of the rock, and, whilst resting under the shade of a small Hindoo temple which crowns the height, were amply repaid by the splendid view at our feet. We had travelled during the night; it was still early morn, and the mists had not yet disappeared from the low cultivated grounds around. Detached portions of vapor were floating along amidst the groves of date-trees at our feet, like nocturnal spirits taking their departure on the approach of day. "Those groups of lovely date-trees bending Like youthful maids when sleep descending Warns them to their silken beds "—(MOORE)— proved to us we had fairly quitted the wilderness, and were once more amidst the abodes of man. Our meditations were, however, soon cut short on approaching the opposite ledge of the rock, which overhung in a perpendicular crag a growth of thick underwood and immense fragments of granite which lay scattered beneath. Our ears were here assailed by the most discordant sounds, evidently proceeding from wild animals in the abyss below, but of what description we were at a loss to conjecture. Hastening, therefore, to our usual source of information, the Potail, or head man of the village, we eagerly inquired of him if there were any sheekar (hunting or shooting) in the neighbourhood. He said there were several bears amongst the wooded crags on the other side of the rock, but owing to the numerous fissures and clefts, their usual places of retreat, it was impossible to get at them, unless by watching during the night, when they repaired to the surrounding jungles in search of food. He added, looking very mysterious, that the neighbourhood contained also other sheekar, but that he would advise us to have nothing to do with it. This of course did not satisfy us; therefore questioning the old gentleman more closely, he at last said, "You will, perhaps, not believe me, but what I am about to say is true: three years ago the country between this and Pemburty was infested by a tiger, which, not content with bullocks and goats, destroyed the shepherds, laborers, and travellers; nay, it used even to enter the villages and carry off the inhabitants. A sheekaree at last shot it, by posting himself in a tree near a pool which it frequented to quench its thirst. That it was killed is known to all, as people from every part flocked to Pemburty to see the carcase of an animal which had done more or less harm to most. I saw it with my own eyes; and never shall I forget the frightful object: it had no more hair on it than I have on the palm of my hand, but its claws, teeth, and whiskers were of enormous size. Well, Gentlemen, we now thought we might rest in peace, as he was the only tiger known in the neighbourhood, and we all congratulated ourselves on his death; when that same night a woman was carried off in Pemburty itself by a tiger, which those who witnessed the deed declared to be the same one that had been killed that morning. It could, however, only possibly be its jinn (spirit); and since then it nightly roves about Pemburty, Goolencondah, and the neighbouring villages, with the most dismal howls and moans, destroying everything it comes across. Some have been foolish enough to try to shoot it, but have invariably been maimed or killed in the attempt, as where is the use of waging war on what is neither flesh nor blood?" We were a good deal amused at the old Potail's account, which was easily explained. The tiger which has once tasted human blood prefers it to that of all other animals, and will invariably leave the flock untouched to pounce on the shepherd. But, however savory it may be, the flesh of man does not appear to agree with these epicures, as they invariably lose their fine glossy coat, the hair falls off, and they assume all the unhealthy and disgusting appearance of a mangy dog. This is the distinguishing sign of the man-eater. Now it appears evident that there were at the same time two of these gentlemen in the vicinity, and when one met his death the survivor got the credit of being his comrade's ghost. Not having at present time to go in search of the phantom, we turned our attention to the bears. G- and myself accordingly sallied out after breakfast to that part of the hill from which had proceeded those hideous sounds. After climbing over huge fragments of rock, and tearing our hands, clothes, and faces with the entangled briars, we arrived immediately under a deep fissure in the solid rock, and were in the act of ascending towards it, when an enormous bear rushed to the entrance with a frightful growl, but immediately retired. We were too much engaged in scrambling up the rugged precipice to be able to take a shot at him, and when we arrived at the entrance of the cleft he was no longer to be seen, nor was it possible to follow him. We remained a long time in silent expectation of a second appearance, but in vain. We then tried to smoke him out, with as little success; and after thus spending in fruitless attempts the greater part of the day, returned empty-handed to our tent, where M was awaiting the result of the expedition. We, however, fully determined to return to the charge as soon as we had placed the invalid within reach of the Cantonment, not wishing to leave him in his present state before he got a clear offing from the jungles, |