As in France, sojourners (for their sins) in the burning plains of Ind have their first breakfast, or _chota hazri_, at an early hour, whilst the breakfast proper--usually described in Lower Bengal, Madras, and Bombay as "tiffin"--comes later on. For _Chota Hazri_ (literally "little breakfast")--which is served either at the Mess-house, the public Bath, or in one's own bungalow, beneath the verandah--poached eggs on toast are _de rigueur_, whilst I have met such additions as _unda ishcamble_ (scrambled eggs), potato cake, and (naughty, naughty!) anchovy toast. Tea or coffee are always drunk with this meal. "Always," have I written? Alas! In my mind's eye I can see the poor Indian vainly trying to stop the too-free flow of the _Belati pani_ (literally "Europe water") by thrusting a dusky thumb into the neck of the just-opened bottle, and in my mind's ear can I catch the blasphemous observation of the subaltern as he remarks to his slave that he does not require, in his morning's "livener," the additional flavour of Mahommedan flesh, and the "hubble-bubble" pipe, the tobacco in which may have been stirred by the same thumb that morning. "Coffee shop" is a favourite function, during the march of a regiment in India, at least it used to be in the olden time, before troops were conveyed by railway. _Dhoolies_ (roughly made palanquins) laden with meat and drink were sent on half way, overnight; and grateful indeed was the cup of tea, or coffee, or the "peg" which was poured forth for the weary warrior who had been "tramping it" or in the saddle since 2 A.M. or some such unearthly hour, in order that the column might reach the new camping-ground before the sun was high in the heavens. It was at "coffee-shop" that "chaff" reigned supreme, and speculations as to what the shooting would be like at the next place were indulged in. And when that shooting was likely to take the form of long men, armed with long guns, and long knives, the viands, which consisted for the most part of toast, biscuits, poached eggs, and _unda bakum_ (eggs and bacon), were devoured with appetites all the keener for the prospect in view. It is in troublous times, be it further observed, that the Hindustan _khit_ is seen at his best. On the field of battle itself I have known coffee and boiled eggs--or even a grilled fowl--produced by the fearless and devoted _nokhur_, from, apparently, nowhere at all.