“And how does your neighbour bear this in the mean time?” said the Brahmin.

“Oh, for that matter,” said the other, “he is not at all behindhand, and I lose nearly as many cattle as I get.  But it gives me much more pleasure to kill one of his buffaloes or llamas, than it does pain me when he kills one of mine.  I consider how much it will vex him, and that some of his vassals are thereby deprived of their sustenance.  I have upwards of thirty strong men employed in ranging this plain and wood, and during the last year they took for me four hundred head.”

“Indeed!—­and how many did you lose in the same time?

“Not above three hundred and eighty.”

“But very inferior?” said the Brahmin.

“Why, no,” replied he:  “as my pastures are richer and more luxuriant than his, two of my cattle are worth perhaps three of his.”

“Is this custom,” asked the Brahmin, “an advantage or a tax on your estate?”

“A tax, indeed!  Why it is worth from four to five hundred head a-year.”

“And how much is it worth to your neighbour?”

“I presume nearly as much.”

“Do your vassals get rich by the bounty you give them?”

“As to that matter, some who are lucky succeed very well, and the rest make a living by it.”

“And what do they give you for the privilege of hunting your neighbour’s cattle?”

“Nothing at all:  I even lose my customary rent from those who engage in it.”

“And it is the same case with your neighbour?”

“Certainly,” said he.

“Then,” said the Brahmin, “it seems to me, if you would agree to lay aside this old custom, you would both be considerable gainers.  I see you look incredulous, but listen a moment.  Each one would, in that case, instead of having half his neighbour’s cattle, have all his own; and, being kept in their native pastures, they would be less likely to stray away, and you could therefore slay and eat as you wanted them; whereas, in your hunting matches many more are either killed or maimed than are wanted for present use, and they are consequently consumed in waste.  You would, moreover, be a gainer by the amount of the labour of these thirty boors, whom you keep in this employment, and who very probably acquire habits of ferocity, licentiousness, and waste, which are not very favourable to their obedience or fidelity.”

The proprietor, having pondered a while upon my friend’s remarks, in a tone of exultation said,—­“Do you think, then, I could ever prevail on my people to forbear, when they saw a likely flock, from laying violent hands on it; or could I resist so favourable an opportunity of revenge?  Nay, more; if we were then tamely to tie up our hands, do you think that Bulderent and his men would consent to do the same?  No, no, old man,” he continued, with great self-complacency, “your arguments appear plausible at first, but when closely considered, they will not stand the lest