early morning comes parade or manoeuvre, growing
painfully early as the brief hot weather creeps on. Stables follow for
the cavalry, and work in the lines for the infantry. Next comes
orderly-room for the adjutants and others; and twice a week _durbar_.
The durbar in an Indian regiment takes the place of the formal
orderly-room of a British regiment. It is held in the open, under the
trees, or at any convenient spot; and the underlying principle is that
any man in the regiment may be present to hear, and, when called upon,
to speak. It is a sort of open court, whereat not only are delinquents
brought up for judgment, but all matters connected with the welfare of
the men, and especially such as in any way touch their pockets or
privileges, are openly discussed. To add to the semi-informal and
friendly nature of the assembly, all the men are allowed to wear plain
clothes.

In the afternoon both officers and men are, as a rule, free to amuse
themselves with such sport and games as may seem good to them. Round and
about Mardan there is fairly good small-game shooting, the game-book in
a good year showing over three thousand head shot by the officers.
Amongst these are wild duck of many varieties, wild geese, snipe,
partridges, hare, and quail.

The ancient and royal sport of falconry, which long flourished, has of
late years become much restricted owing to the increase of cultivation.
One of the highest forms of falconry, and one little known in other
countries, was the pursuit of the ravine deer. Only falcons reared from
the nest could be trained to this sport, and they had to be obtained
from far off Central Asia. The falcon used was the Cherug, or Saker as
she is known in Europe, and the method of training is interesting. From
the nest upwards the bird was taught that the only possible place to
obtain food was from between a pair of antlers. At first fed sitting
between them, as she learnt to flutter she was encouraged to bridge a
short gap to her dinner. Then, as she grew stronger, she flew short
distances to get her food as before. The next step was the use of a
stuffed deer on wheels, which, when the hawk was loosed, was run along,
and thus accustomed her to the idea of movement in getting her food. At
the same time she was accustomed to the presence of greyhounds, for
without the aid of these she would never be able to bring down her
quarry. For the Pathan saying is: "The first day a ravine deer is born a
fleet ma