Page:Oriental Sketches Dramatic Sketches and Tales.pdf/272

Rh "Or speeding to the lovely haunts  The Nyl Ghau loves."

The Nyl Ghau is an inhabitant of these districts, which abound in antelopes, deer, and every kind of game.

"While others bear Encaged the spotted leopards, taught."

Cheetahs, or hunting leopards, are still trained to the chase in Hindostan: vast numbers are kept at Bhurtpore, and at the courts of other native princes, for this purpose. Hawking is still more common: even the Rajahs, who, being Hindoos, are forbidden by their religion to shed blood, enjoy the sport with falcons taught to take the prey alive.

"Fresh from the Jumna's sandy bed The gushing water- melons shed."

The sands of the Jumna are famous for their water-melons. Citrons, shaddocks, oranges, mangos, pomegranates, plantains, custard apples, &c. &c. are the productions of the gardens; and preserved fruits of all kinds, Pistachio nuts, fresh apples and grapes, are brought with more costly articles of merchandize by the wandering traders of Thibet, who traffic down the country as far as Benares and Patna.