INDIA AGAIN

which were then in progress. Douglas was made ^
of the polo committee for the Durbar period^ and he had
therefore a lot to attend to in connection with it. Early^he
following morning we rode to Jagatpur Island the
Island" as it was called by us—where the military camp
was pitched. The troops were rehearsing the church parade
for the Sunday and the presentation of colours which was
to take place the following Monday. We watched these
rehearsals with great interest and in the afternoon we
watched polo again. Fresh arrivals came in daily to the
various camps.

Early on the morning of the ist of December, Neil
Haig (Douglas's cousin) of the Inniskillings and Miss
Gerard Creagh (niece of Sir O'Moore Creagh) joined my
party, and we all had breakfast with Douglas at the Cavalry
Division camp. I was then rather hoping that Neil and
Gerard would make a match of it. Some time afterwards
they did become engaged and the marriage proved to be
one of the happiest ones which I have had the privilege to
come across. Douglas and I lunched that day with Captain
Allanson, who had organised and was running the camps
of the Governor of Bengal and the Government of India.
We were astounded at the beauty of the latter, but were
rather horrified to hear that the cost of it had amounted to
£30,000. We learned that the occupants had nothing at all to
pay and were even brought and sent home at Government
expense. This was very different from what was being done
for the regimental soldiers and their wives. They had to pay
very stiffly for everything, billets and food included, though
they were all on official duty. I must not, however, dwell on
old grievances, now long past and almost forgotten.

The rehearsal of the review took place on the and of
December. I took Gerard with me and we had a fine view
from the flagstaff, where Douglas had taken us. Douglas
rode round the troops with the Commander-in-Chief. The

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