EFFECTS OF SLANG.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3207, 14 January 1893, Page 2 (Supplement)

EFFECTS OF SLANG.

The following humorous incident is from Mutiny Memoirs, by Colonel A. R D, Mackenzie, G. 8., Hon • A. D. C. to the Viceroy. On tbo maroh of the Ist Sikh Cavalry, now tho 11 Hi Bengal Lancers, from Delhi to Cawnporo, tlie author was riding with the advance file's," when'a" yoiihir native woman, wielding with both bands a" very Jong! straight, .double-edged sword, such as is frequently used by acrobats at Indian festivities, suddenly appeared in tho middled the road and barred our way. The creature must liavo bceb mild or under tho influence of 'bhang' or sorao otlior intoxicant, for she deluged us with a.torrent of abuse as she vigorously'brandished 1 tho long, thin blade. For a moment I was nonplnwed, the situation was so entirely novel. . Mad or sane, the viraeo evidently meanl business. There was 'clearly'no getting past her without a fight, and that,'was quito out of the question. 'Shoot hert sahib,' siid one of the sowars with me ; little troubled with the polite consideration for the >ox ■which the obligations of an effete civilisation imposed upon his British officer. At that moment, as if by inspiration, a happy thought flashed on my mind,' Give hergake (abuse),' I said to the sowar; 'and give it her hot and ftrnng and plenty of it.' Instantly grasping the idea, iho grinning sowar opened such a battery of abuse of the vilest aud most comprehensive nature upon the. unfortunate young pcrfon and her female relatives to the remotest degree th.it her own fire was promptly silenced. Encouraged by this success, the sowar, redoubled his efforts, nndshiasr such awful and shameful language with such forco and precision that the rout of the enemy speedily becamo comploto. ; Dropping her long sword, and stuffing her : fingers into hereare, she fled with a horrified shriek, and we marched triumphantly on, chuckling nt the success of our tnciioi,'