Life in the Indian police

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

LIFE IN THE INDIAN
POLICE

BY

C. E. GOULDSBURY

(LATE) INDIAN POLICE

AUTHOR OF
DULALL, THE FOREST GUARD : A TALE OF SPORT AND
ADVENTURE IN BENGAL "

WITH 24 ILLUSTRATIONS

LONDON

CHAPMAN & HALL, Ltd.
1912

DEDICATED

TO

SIR STEUART COLVIN BAYLEY, G.C.S.I., CLE.

LATE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF BENGAL

(AND AFTERWARDS A MEMBER OF COUNCIL OF THE

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA)

DURING WHOSE ABLE AND MOST POPULAR ADMINISTRATION

THE AUTHOR PASSED THE PLEASANTEST YEARS

OF HIS LONG SERVICE IN THE POLICE

FORCE OF THAT PROVINCE

AUTHOR

NOTE

The illustrations are all taken from photographs, for
many of which I am indebted to friends and brother
officials, who served with me in the districts mentioned
in the book ; and I take this opportunity of acknowledg-
ing their kindness in giving or lending copies which have
enabled me to illustrate the book more fully, and with
the more interesting of the illustrations it contains.

C. E. G.

Weybeidge,

1st August, 1912.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

PAGE

A momentous telegram from Calcutta — An interview with the
bankers — My first cheque-book — Booking a cabin : a slight
difference of opinion as to the meaning of the phrase — Paying
by cheque : a novice's idea of the modus operandi — Purchase of
an outfit — Voyage to Calcutta — Some description of fellow-
passengers — A tale of a tiger : in more senses than one — Dis-
comfiture of the narrator ....... 1

CHAPTER II

The voyage continued — A man overboard refuses to be rescued — An
exciting chase and ultimate capture : result — Arrival at Garden
Reach — A gorgeous messenger — Meet with my uncle — Ap-
pointed an assistant-superintendent of police — Posted to Birbhum
— Proceed to join appointment — A " Dak Gharry " and its driver
— Anglo-Indian hospitality — Vagaries of the Indian pony — Meet-
ing with my future CO. — Morning drill : " awkward squad "
and the goose step — Initiated into the mysteries of police work
proper — Recreation and racquets — Some description of my
CO. — The perils of sentry duty in a storm .... 8

CHAPTER III

A perilous adventure — Posted to a sub-district — A Palki journey —
Adventures by the way — A tiger scare — The Pheow — Arrive at
my destination — The assistant magistrate — Promise of good
pig-sticking — An exciting run and death of the boar — Trans-
ferred to famine duty — Nature of these duties — A villager killed
by a leopard — A beat arranged — The leopard kills a beater —
Springs on to my elephant — Killed at last — The two widows and
their dead — Relief operations closed — Return to my ordinary
duties . . . . . . . . . .15

CHAPTER IV

Posted to Serampore — Prevalence of crime — Great number of
" Dacoity " — A brief description of the Indian police organiz-
ation— Working up the staff — Arrest of some dacoits — A con-
fession— Kali Dass Chokidar : a secret member of the gang —

CONTENTS

PAGE

Engage him as informer — Gain information of the leader's
whereabouts — Planning his arrest — A well-conceived disguise —
Surrounding the premises by night — The Chokidari force, with
a note on the rural police of Bengal ..... 25

CHAPTER V

An attempt to escape made by the " wanted " — Indignation of his
household on finding him trapped — A Babu relative threatens
to shoot me — A specimen of English as spoken by the Babu —
Blank cartridge sometimes useful — The house-search commenced
— A description of the interior — Draw a blank — The zenana
suspected : resolve to search it, but find door locked — Passive
resistance — Finally break the door open — Scene within described
— Our entrance much resented by Babu above-mentioned —
The ladies join in execrations — Eventually find the man is one
of them — The discovery and arrest — Offered a bribe to release
him — An anecdote — The end of this adventure ... 32

CHAPTER VI

Acting promotion — Posted to Patna — Join my new district — Work
in a heavy district — Powers and responsibilities of young officers
— A professional bird-catcher — Kali Dass again — His early
training in quick- changing — Return of the permanent district
superintendent — Relieved of my acting appointment — Posted to
charge of city police — Take over charge — Some description of
the city : its bad characters and crime — The new office punkah-
puller — Traffic in official secrets ...... 40

CHAPTER VII

How the new punkah-puller obtained the post — Dishonesty of sub-
ordinate officials — Difficulties of European police officers —
Frequency of burglaries by night — A consultation with Kali
Dass : his suggestion — Burglars as night punkah-pullers —
Success of the experiment — A tragic event — Uncertainty of life
in India — Cholera and snakes ...... 48

CHAPTER VIII

The hot weather at its height — Cholera in epidemic form sets in —
European victims — Progress of the scourge — Native super-
stitions as to its origin — Green monster of fish-like form —
Native priests' use of the epidemic — Advent of the heavy rains —
A severe thunderstorm — A strange fatality — Progress of the
rains : its influence on crime — Snipe commence to arrive — Good
sport in the paddy-fields — Big bags to be obtained — An all-day
shoot — Down with sunstroke and fever — A near go — Conval-
escence— Ordered a sea voyage — A month's sick leave granted

X

CONTENTS

PAGE

— Preparation for departure — Deputation of officers — A trying
ordeal — The devotion of Kali Dass — Sail for Colombo . . 56

CHAPTER IX

The voyage — An indigo -planter from Purneah — His description of
the district and its European population — Arrival at Colombo —
Life on shore — Return by steamer to Calcutta — Start for my
new district — At the " Dak bungalow " — A visitor who insists
on being my host — Hospitality of indigo -planters — A planter's
bungalow — A mosquito house — Sporting trophies : a man-eating
muggur — How my host shot a man-eating tiger — His theory of the
origin of man-eaters — Other guests arrive — Nicknames amongst
planters .......... 65

CHAPTER X

Tiffin and sporting tales — The menu described — Sending out horses
for my journey next morning — We inspect them, and I learn
their individual peculiarities — Planters' horses and their ways —
I anticipate a perilous journey — Dinner : a sumptuous repast —
An unlooked-for interlude — A moonlight adventure with a leopard
— An endless ta(i)le — Panthers and leopards : variety of the
species — Start on my journey — My anticipations more than
fulfilled, but arrive at its end undamaged .... 74

CHAPTER XI

The headquarters of an indigo " concern " — I am put up by the
owner, head of the planting community — My fellow-officials
described — A sporting engineer — His anxiety to shoot a tiger —
Frequent attempts ending in failure has become sceptical as
to their existence — I receive information of a kill — Determine
to go out to it — My journey to the jungle — Heat, dust, and a
thunderstorm — An Indian method of procuring a cool drink —
An Ekka, or native gig, and its driver . . . 84

CHAPTER XII

An uncomfortable conveyance — A sporting sub-inspector and a
man-eating horse — Some facts about native horses : their
dislike of Europeans — Arrive at the outpost — Inspecting the
line of elephants — Official duties — An. adventure during the night
— A young buffalo carried off by the tiger — Start for the jungle —
Preliminary arrangements for the beat . . . . .92

CHAPTER XIII

Thrilling moments — First signs of the tiger — Two snapshots —
Following up — The tiger's sudden charge — The elephants put

XI

CONTENTS

PAGE

to flight — Ludicrous appearance of my sporting subordinate —
We return to the attack — The panic-stricken elephants — An
agreeable surprise — We find the tiger dead — Padding the car-
case— Difficulties encountered — A satirical Mahout — The
advantages of a blind elephant — Success at last — Return to the
outpost : an incident en route ...... 99

CHAPTER XIV

Our reception by the villagers — General rejoicing — Skinning the
carcase — A fight for the flesh — The value of tiger fat — The lucky
bones described — Native superstitions regarding these curious
trophies — Return to the station — Incident on the way — Dawn
in the jungle — A leopard heard calling — Intense heat — The ele-
phant and its portable shower-bath — A halt for refreshments —
A new way of making butter — Reach the bungalow at last — My
sporting friend's anxiety to hear the result — Excusable decep-
tion— The truth finally revealed — Tableau ! . . . .107

CHAPTER XV

Kali Dass again — A murder case without a clue — Police completely
baffled — Close official enquiry and depute the informer — His
extraordinary success — How he obtained his information —
Following up the clue — The deaf and dumb witness — His in-
terpreter, Baba-Jee Faquir — Identification of the suspects —
Four men arrested — The woman accomplice — Difficulties — We
visit the house where murder was committed — Reconstruction
of the crime . . . . . . . . .114

CHAPTER XVI

History of the crime revealed — How the part taken by each of the
accused was proved — All deny their guilt — Counter-charge
against the deaf mute witness — He suggests a house-search —
Missing property found buried under the flooring — The prisoners
dumbfounded — My lodgings for the night — A curious meal —
A resourceful head constable produces early morning tea —
Kindliness and good feeling between Europeans and natives — -
Some remarks on the evil produced by over-education — Investi-
gation resumed — The woman confesses — Search the houses of
two of the prisoners — Blood-stained weapons found concealed in
roof — Chain of evidence completed — Return to headquarters . 121

CHAPTER XVII

Case comes on for trial — Legality of the deaf mute's evidence ques-
tioned by the defence — Argument on both sides — Objection
disallowed — The trial proceeds — The Baba-Jee, alias Kali
Dass, sworn as interpreter — The deaf mute's evidence in dumb

xii

CONTENTS

PAGE

show — The crime re-enacted in Court — The woman as Queen's
evidence — All four prisoners committed to the sessions —
subsequently convicted and sentenced to be hanged — Attempt
at rescue on the scaffold — Precautionary measures — Ingenuity
of the jailor — Sentence carried out — The Baba-Jee disappears —
Gopi Lall Hulwai, the sweetmeat maker — Kali Dass retires . 129

CHAPTER XVIII

Heavy floods — A tiger reported on an island — We decide to exploit
it — Local Rajah asked to provide elephants — Travelling by native
boat — Halt for the night — Invaded by the insect tribe — White
ants and their ways — Also " gundis " and cockroaches — Driven
to seek shelter on shore — Erection of improvised tent — Com-
parative comfort — An unwelcome visitor — Watching the
jungle — A leopard on the prowl — Two snap-shots in the dark —
Loud roars and a struggle in the jungle . . . . .136

CHAPTER XIX

Boatmen panic-stricken — They attempt to cut the boat adrift — My
orderly interferes — A stormy scene — Argumentum ad hominem —
The two " Manghis " made prisoners — A Solomon-like judg-
ment— We follow up the leopard — An exciting advance — Come
suddenly upon our quarry, fortunately dead ! — Skinning the
carcase : a difficulty — Finally entrusted to the cook ! — His
terror and protests — Gentle persuasion — Finally gets through
the job in more senses than one — Dismantling the tent — Resume
our voyage — " Make all plain sail " — A masterpiece in patch-
work— Arrive at our destination — Excitement of the villagers —
" Dollies " and their contents — A visit from the Rajah — His
arrival and appearance. . . . . . . .143

CHAPTER XX

Modern native potentate as he appears in England and in India — An
amusing introduction — A novel mode of entrance — Exchange
of courtesies — An Indian house-boat — A noisy night — The
Rajah's manager — A Chandarnagor Frenchman — Start for the
jungle — Beating for the tiger — Claw-marks on a tree — Amusing
discussion on the subject by the Mahouts — Jungle lore and
woodcraft — No established precedent for conduct of tigers . . 150

CHAPTER XXI

Extraordinary behaviour of my elephant — Explanation more sudden
than agreeable — Unexpected appearance of the tiger — Perils of
tiger-shooting off elephants — The Frenchman's involuntary
descent — A perilous position — Hand-to-hand encounter with the

xiii

CONTENTS

PAGE

tiger — Victory at last — The Frenchman lost — We hunt for him in
the jungle — Found in a tree — Narrates his adventures — Graphic
if not grammatical relation : " And voila, I am here ! " — The
Frenchman stays to dinner — The effects of Bass's beer and
brandies and sodas — Relates his family history — In vino
Veritas — Fuddled, but polite to the end — We travel back in
comfort — Important information on arrival . . . .157

CHAPTER XXII

A serious riot threatened — Proceed to the village — Attitude of the
parties — Police powerless — An instance of the natives' faith in
European officials — The dispute finally settled — Halt at the
village — ■" The Land of Regrets," and continual surprises — A
fresh excitement — Juvenile herdsman gored by a wild boar —
Organizing a village hunting expedition — We attend as spectators
— Buffaloes in lieu of horses — Pig-sticking extraordinary — The
beat commences — Two boars charge — An exciting struggle —
Death of the boars — Fighting for the flesh . . • .164

CHAPTER XXIII

An imaginary leopard — A damp and fruitless quest — We return to
the station — Constant transfers of superior police officers :
drawbacks and advantages — Transferred to Jalpaigori — " Send-
ing round a list " : a curious Anglo-Indian custom — Journey to
new district — Rivers in flood — Ferries somewhat primitive and
few — Travelling through buffalo grazing country — Juvenile
herdsmen in charge — Marvellous control — My new station —
Taking over charge — A native officer's definition of an advanced
district — Novel method of estimating the progress of education —
Description of the district and station — A sportsman's paradise . 173

CHAPTER XXIV

A native tea-planter murdered — I go out to investigate the case — A
journey through dense forest by elephant — Wonderful intuition
of Mahouts — Come upon wild elephant tracks — Mahouts per-
plexed at last — We lose our way — Wandering in the forest — A
consultation — Ingenious way of finding right track — In danger
of meeting wild elephants — Hear them in the distance — Finally
hit upon a look-out post — The young forest guard on duty — We
are guided to a forest Rest House — The chokidar in charge —
Creature comforts in the wilderness — An enchanted bungalow . 180

CHAPTER XXV

Tinned soup and barking deer — The old caretaker and his past
services — An excellent raconteur — Some of his exploits — An

xiv

CONTENTS

PAGE

exciting experience during the night — Surrounded by wild
elephants — Mischievous propensities of these animals — Destruc-
tion of frontier outpost buildings — Driven off at last — Advantage
of a morning appetite — Resume my journey — The scene of the
murder — A thumb -impression in blood — Following up the clue —
The case detected — Arrest of the murderer — Identified by thumb-
print— Trial and conviction — Brief account of the case — A
curious verdict . . . . . . . . .186

CHAPTER XXVI

Some remarks on forest travel — Return journey to the bungalow —
Benighted in the forest — Feeling our way — The welcome beacon
— Early morning in the jungle — A brace of jungle cocks — The
ladies of the harem — A " right and left " into the " brown " — An
unpleasant surprise — Adventure with a bear — Jungle cock for
breakfast — The old man and his son — Duntal Sing : origin of
the name — Engage the father as shikari — Back to the station . 195

CHAPTER XXVII

Government elephants — Why provided — " Bagh-Bahadur " and
" Bhallo-Pershad " — High-sounding names bestowed on ele-
phants— How these two earned their titles — Shooting expedi-
tions— Frequent disappointments — The officials of the district —
The deputy commissioner — His career in the Civil Service — The
sporting Medico — The forest officer : his huge jungle kingdom —
An unsporting district engineer — Our attempts to convert him —
Disastrous results — Shamming dead — The magical results
obtained by offer of " baksheesh " . . . . .201

CHAPTER XXVIII

Red tape and punkahs — Preparing for the cold-weather tour — Tents
large and small — Despatching camp and equipage — Transforma-
tion of the domestics — Our first encampment — Luxuries in the
jungle — A stroll round the camp — Ingenious method of picket-
ing elephants — My old shikari in camp — Full of information — A
leopard round the tents — We go out after him — Find carcase of a
buffalo — An unexpected tiger — Leopard on a tree thirty feet off
the ground : an extraordinary climb ..... 207

CHAPTER XXIX

Stalking the leopard — A difficult target — Fire both barrels — Success —
Follow after our companion — His fine shooting — Tiger added to
the bag — The crafty old shikari — The leopard's climb explained —
Three days of work — Duties in camp — Shooting a necessary part
of them — False information — Searching for imaginary " kills " —

XV

CONTENTS

PAGE

The Bhutan boundary — " Khubbur " of a tiger in a cave — How
the report was tested and proved true — A remarkable occurrence
— Decide to watch entrance of cave — Difficult country — Select a
tree — A perilous position in the dark . . . . .214

CHAPTER XXX

Moonlight at last — First appearance of the tiger — A period of suspense
— Seen again making for the cave — Waiting till within range — A
rush across a clearing — We fire together — Down, but up again —
A furious charge — Ineffectual shots — Kamsin to the rescue — The
old shikari's forethought — A real man-eater — A dilemma —
Solution — Inspect the cave — Ghastly relics — Our trophy safely
housed — Cannibalism amongst tigers — An instance quoted —
Walking back by moonlight — An exciting walk — The shikari's
ingenuity — The tents at last . . . . . . .221

CHAPTER XXXI

Move our camp — Ten miles in ten hours — A seemingly endless forest —
An ideal jungle camp — Preparing the kitchen range — Primitive,
but efficient — A raid on the poultry — Our dinner in progress —
Strange transformations — Pitching the tents — Loyalty of Indian
servants : the hardships they endure — The camp fire — Our
surroundings — A recent raid by wild elephants — Inspection of
frontier pillars — Move camp to Bura-Duar's cantonment —
Preparation for a " Durbar " : its origin and object described —
Treasure -boxes and whisky ....... 228

CHAPTER XXXII

A description of the ceremony — The approach of the procession —
The " jackals " — A barbaric soldiery — Blanket-clad savages —
The "music" (?) — The Zimpen arrives: an envoy on a mule —
His sudden transhipment to the chair of honour — His dress and
appearance — Ceremonial scarves — Payment of the subsidy —
Stolid demeanour of the envoy — Whisky cases presented —
Remarkable effects of the presentation — A private audience —
The effects of Manschino — Rajahbhatkhowa Rest House —
Meaning and origin of the name — Alipur sub-division — Touring
magnates — The Professor : a trophy hunter .... 235

CHAPTER XXXIII

Alipur : a sportsman's paradise — Its earlier history — Mechis and
Garos : wandering tribes — " Koches " and other races — News of
a " forest " tiger — The Professor's unique method for securing

xvi

CONTENTS

PAGE

trophies — Tiger shot — The Professor claims first blood — The
investigation of the carcase — Verdict against him — Unmistakable
traces of a *303 bullet — A lucky shot — The Professor nearly
makes a " record bag " — A panic amongst the Mahouts — He
lectures on the benefit of education — An attempt to convert the
old shikari — An amusing argument — The learned man's defeat —
Startling information — A quicksand and its dangers . . 243

CHAPTER XXXIV

Break up of the camp — Left alone — Inspection duties — An incident
after a parade — An example of the potency of caste — Sometimes
used as a lever — How a serious crime was detected by a high-caste
sub-inspector — The spell of the jungle — Return through the
forest — A halt for the night at a look-out hut — Arranging my
quarters — Securing the elephants against stampede — Camp fire
not possible — Trusting to Providence . . . . .251

CHAPTER XXXV

A novel situation — The silence of the forest — A sudden call to arms —
" Two black furry creatures " — " Bhallook, Sahib ! " — A shot and
its effect — Comical behaviour of the bear — A tantalizing sight —
" Eating bullets " — Kamsin's disgust — Morning — A hazardous
stalk — An exciting moment — Agreeably surprised — Journey
resumed — Signs of human beings — An encampment of " Garos "
— A strange -looking people — A jungle tragedy — Gruesome
evidence — Beating for a man-eater — Skilful manoeuvring — A
right and left 258

CHAPTER XXXVI

A wounded tiger — The Mahouts scared — Searching for footprints —
The old shikari perplexed — A remarkable spring — " It must be
a Bhooth " — Native credulity — The old man's sarcasm — A fool-
hardy proceeding — The tiger's sudden onslaught — A desperate
struggle for life — A sudden inspiration — The tiger retires —
Terrible injuries — A curious superstition — I follow up the tiger —
A sudden charge — Shot out of the pad — An unequal combat
— Another charge — " Murgya, Sahib ! " — The old shikari's
delight — Back to camp — A peaceful night — Return to Alipur —
The native doctor : his diagnosis . . , . . .266

CHAPTER THE LAST

Return to the station — The doctor's prompt action — Astonishment
of the natives — The old shikari's recovery — A question of will —

xvii

CONTENTS

PAGE

The counting of the " Garos " — Reaction — Apply for a transfer —
Posted to Eastern Bengal — My new district and its people — A
criminal population — A description in verse — Confessions —
Methods of old police officers — Fiendish ingenuity — Two years of
unrequited labour — Furlough — A lapse of many years — The call
of the wilds — Back to the old district — Changes — Sic transit —
Last furlough and retirement . ...... 275

POSTSCRIPT 284

XV111

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

TO FACE PAGE

Hearing Reports in Camp ..... Frontispiece

Parade op the District Preserve 12

A Mirshikari 41

Measuring a Recruit 42

An Indigo Factory Well 68

Tiger unexpectedly encountered 74

An Indigo Planter's Horse 80

"Ekka" with Canopy removed 90

Rough on the Terrier! 107

Squad at "Riot Drill" 164

The Old Shikari 187

" Bhalloo Pershad " 201

A Shooting Camp ... 209

A Giant among its kind 210

The Camp Kitchen 229

The "Zimpen" and Members op his Suite 232

Apter the Durbar 235

The Great Man — in Undress 238

A "Line" crossing Rtver 244

Beating with the Line 246

Bringing in the "Chara" 249

Elephant in Quicksand 250

A Good Day's Work 255

Looking for Blood Marks 267

xix

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

CHAPTER I

" Appointed Police — start at once."

Curt as was this message, a score of words could not
have made its meaning clearer, or given it more importance
nor — myself — greater satisfaction than I experienced on
reading these two short, decisive sentences which — trans-
mitted through eight thousand miles of sea and over land —
had just been handed to me.

Sitting in my dingy rooms in Bayswater, I had been
brooding on the hard fate which, for lack of funds to pur-
chase a commission, had necessitated my choosing a life
in a city office or that of a soldier — but in a foreign service
and for some years practically as a trooper — neverthe-
less I had selected the latter.

For the last two years, since leaving school, I had
pestered every relative and friend I had in India to find me
some employment there. But hope so long deferred had
turned to despair and at length, through the influence of
friends, had obtained a so-called cadet-ship in an Austrian
Cavalry Regiment which I was shortly to join.

Imagine then my astonishment and delight as I read
the words with which the message opened. The telegram
was from an uncle — an official of some influence in Calcutta
— in whose house I knew I would be welcome.

It was some time before I could realize my good fortune
in having obtained an appointment which of all others
I had most desired ever since I had arrived at the age when
a boy begins to think of the career he should adopt. This
predilection was, indeed, due to the fact that a cousin of
mine — some eleven years my senior — was already in the

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

Indian Police, and during the ten years he had been in
India, wrote such glowing accounts of life in that service
that I had long secretly resolved to follow in his footsteps
if I could. In the days of which I write, a Police appoint-
ment in India could only be obtained by nomination, and
without any examination qualifying or competitive ;
hence, was doubly attractive to youths who, like myself,
had devoted more attention to cricket and football when at
school, than the less interesting subjects necessary for
such examinations. This seemingly haphazard method
of appointment to positions so important and responsible
answered better than might have been expected, since the
majority of these youths, though educated in England,
had passed their early days in India, and being, therefore,
more or less familiar with the country, and the manners
and customs of the people and their language, were
especially suited for the work.

With the telegram in my pocket, I set out for the office,
and requesting an interview with my employer, tendered
my resignation, which from the readiness with which it was
accepted, showed that my services were not considered
absolutely indispensable by the firm.

I now called upon the family Bankers, and was informed
by them that, under instructions from my uncle, they
were prepared to advance the money necessary for my
passage out and outfit, and presenting me with a cheque-
book— the first I had ever owned — requested I would
be " so good " as to draw on them up to £150.

To me, whose annual income had hitherto amounted to
less than £40, this seemed a princely fortune. However,
concealing my amazement, I thanked them for their
kindness and pocketing the cheque book, went on to the
steamer office.

I have said this was the first cheque-book I had ever
possessed, but it was also the first I had ever seen, for as
I have already hinted, money in any shape except a small
monthly allowance paid quarterly, and often anticipated,
was a commodity I was seldom troubled with, and never in
sufficient bulk to necessitate opening an account at a Bank !

My knowledge, therefore, of the uses and purposes of
2

PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE

cheques was as vague as that of the youth I heard of later,
who, on being informed by his Bankers that his balance
was overdrawn £100, promptly drew a cheque for that
amount and forwarding it to the bank, requested that the
account might be adjusted !

However, seeing that the cheque-book contained a
large number of slips — all perforated ready for tearing
off — I concluded there must be 150 of them — each of the
value of £1 — and satisfied I was right, dismissed the subject
from my mind.

Arriving in due course at the steamship company's
offices, I saw a long counter before me, behind which were
several, smartly dressed young clerks, and selecting one
who seemed to me more good-natured looking than the rest,
I went boldly up to him and requested he would book
me " a cabin " in the next steamer for Calcutta !

" Do you want a whole cabin ? " asked the youth,
in evident surprise, eyeing me somewhat superciliously.
His question rather puzzled me, but thinking that some
of the cabins were possibly divided into two, I replied
meekly that " perhaps half a one would do."

At this he burst out laughing — much to my indigna-
tion— then, apologising for his mirth, he said : "I see you
are a 8 griff,' so let me settle the matter for you — what you
need is a berth. What class are you travelling ? "

Here was another poser, for although I guessed a berth
must be some portion of a cabin, I had not the faintest
notion what class I ought to take, but as I had always
travelled third by rail, I ventured to suggest that " I
would like a third-class berth."

But here again I found I had blundered, as my friend —
trying to suppress his laughter — went on to inform me
that steamers were not like railways, and that I must book
by either first or second class. Finally, after discussing
the matter financially, it was decided to book a first-class
passage in a two-berthed cabin.

" You will pay by cheque, I suppose ? " he asked
presently as he was making out the ticket. " Oh,
certainly," I replied, glad of the opportunity of showing
I had a cheque-book, and taking out this, asked him " how
many I had to pay ? "

3

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

" Pounds do you mean ? Just wait a moment," and
rapidly adding up some figures, stated the sum — £68 odd,
as near as I can remember.

I was rather staggered at the amount, but too shy to
ask questions, proceeded to tear out the cheques, till I was
interrupted by my friend who, having completed the
ticket, had been evidently watching my proceedings, and
now inquired what I was doing.

" Why you said £68, didn't you ? and I have only torn
out ten as yet," I replied innocently, somewhat surprised
at the question. He looked at me for a moment as if
wondering whether he was dealing with a lunatic — then,
as the truth suddenly dawned on him, went into such
paroxysms of laughter that the whole office came crowding
round us.

" You don't mean to say you were going to pay in sixty -
eight cheques ? " he exclaimed at last, as soon as he could
speak.

" Of course I was, and I don't see what there is to
laugh at," I replied angrily, and seeing I was annoyed,
he again apologized, and then showed me how I should
make out the cheque, and finally handing me the ticket
and receipt, wished me a pleasant passage and we parted
the best of friends. Thus ended my first attempt at
business on my own account — a fiasco I might easily have
avoided by asking a few questions when presented with the
cheque-book, instead of assuming I knew all about it as
young men are often apt to do.

Leaving the shipping office, I proceeded to an East
India outfitter, where, after much bargaining and a final
reduction of his estimate by half, I procured an outfit for
£40, which, thanks to my recently acquired knowledge,
I paid him in a properly drawn-out cheque.

The rest of my preparations did not occupy me long.
I had no parents or relations to whom to bid adieu, nor
many friends in town ; accordingly just ten days from the
date I had received the telegram found me one of the usual
crowd on the deck of the SS. "Nubia," en route for
Calcutta.

It is not my intention to describe the passage out.
4

THE PASSAGE OUT

This has been done before — possibly ad nauseam — at any
rate, by abler pens than mine. The passengers were of
the number and variety generally found on Indian mail
boats, from Colonels, Merchants and Commissioners, to the
latest thing in Subalterns, just let out of Sandhurst, with
the usual sprinkling of the other sex, as motley in their
way.

There was another youth on board going out to the
police, and we, together with the subalterns and some young
" completion civilians," soon fraternized, and what with
dances, cricket and theatricals, enjoyed the best of times.

Amongst the passengers I have mentioned were two
genuine old " shikaris " — a staff-corps Colonel and a civilian
— men who had passed most of their lives amidst the
Indian jungles, and shot every kind of beast to be found
in them.

To listen to their tales — told in the smoking-room at
nights — was one of my greatest joys. They always had
an audience including one curious-looking old person
whose name I don't remember — so may call him Jones —
who at the end of each story seemed about to tell one
of his own, but, up to the night before reaching Aden,
had not as yet succeeded in producing it.

At Aden we took up two fresh passengers, officers
proceeding to India, and in one of them the individual
referred to had evidently found an old acquaintance,
a man about his own age, but very dissimilar in appearance.
That night these two were in the smoking-room with
others, and after a time one of the old " shikaris " com-
menced one of his adventures. As he concluded we saw
Jones making his usual preparations to begin, but, this
time, to our amazement he went on :

" Gentlemen," he began, " I think you will all agree
that we are much indebted to Colonel S. and Mr. C. for the
amusement they have afforded us, and I have long wished
to assist them by relating a strange adventure which hap-
pened to a friend of mine and myself, many years ago,
but the facts are so extraordinary that I have not dared to
tell the story without some evidence in support of it,
which, however, I am now in a position to produce."

Of course there were loud cries of " hear, hear ! " and

5

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

44 let us have the story," " I thought you had one up your
sleeve " — and so on from the crowd now assembled —
many having come in on hearing that " Jones was actually
going to tell his story at last." Encouraged by all this
acclamation he commenced. I cannot now recall the details
of his tale, but it was to the effect that on one occasion
while he and a friend were sitting on a tree, a tiger suddenly
appeared beneath them, and in their excitement both fell
off — one on to the tiger's back and the other close behind
it. The tiger — alarmed at these strange proceedings —
bolted with its rider clinging on to its neck and the other
sportsman being towed along by its tail — the end of which
by some extraordinary mischance, had caught between
his clothing and his belt !

It was certainly — as the narrator had put it — " an
extraordinary tale," and one too Munchausenlike in char-
acter to be believed without corroboration, hence when
he had finished there was a dead silence — more eloquent
than words — the meaning of which was not difficult to
guess.

" Ah, I see, gentlemen, you think I am drawing a long
bow," said Jones, " but my friend here will vouch for the
truth of the story. You remember the affair, Arm-
strong ? " — turning to his friend.

44 No, I am afraid I don't," replied the individual
appealed to, in solemn, uncompromising tones.

44 What ! " cried Jones, 44 you don't remember our
adventure ! Why, it was you who rode the tiger, while
I was being towed behind ! "

44 No, I regret to say, I have no recollection of any such
occurrence," replied his friend again, more decidedly than
before.

Jones looked at him for a moment, then turning to
the others, he said : 44 Gentlemen, I am sorry my friend's
memory has failed him," and bidding us good-night,
went off to bed. He never entered the smoking-room again,
and when we arrived at Colombo he left the ship, although
he had taken his passage to Calcutta.

However, before the voyage was over, we discovered
that the story as he told it was absolutely true, and 44 his
friend (!) " — who now admitted it — confessed that he had
6

AN UNRELIABLE FRIEND

not dared to corroborate the tale as he could see that none
of us believed it ! Not a very satisfactory explanation,
to say the least of it, and we all felt very sorry for poor
Jones, more especially as he had told us that this was the
only adventure he had ever experienced, and had waited
many years for this opportunity of relating it. Hence,
I am afraid we gave his " friend " rather a bad time of it
during the remainder of the voyage !

CHAPTER II

We had been about thirty days at sea, and were all more
or less tired of each other and the monotony of life on
board, when an accident occurred which created some
excitement and furnished a fresh subject for thought and
conversation for the time. Having anchored for the usual
six hours at Madras we had left shortly after mid-day,
and by five o'clock were well out at sea, bowling along at
about thirteen knots.

Tea was just over and most of the passengers were on
deck — lounging in groups, smoking or playing deck quoits,
when suddenly, above the throbbing of the engines, there
came the sound of a loud splash, followed immediately
by a cry of " Man overboard " from some one in the fore-
part of the ship.

Next came the sharp, short order from the officer on
the bridge, " Stand by to lower the life-boat," and then a
loud tinkling of the bell conveying his order to the engine-
room to stop, reverse, and drive full speed astern, but
before these orders could take effect the man was half a
mile behind us. His head was now all that we could see
of him, and that only at intervals as it rose upon a wave —
showing, with the gaudy " bandana " handkerchief bound
round it, a tiny speck of colour on that vast surface of
neutral tinted water.

On hearing the splash one of the passengers had run
to the vessel's stern, and as the man went floating by,
with the best of good intentions, threw a lifebuoy at his
head, and, had his aim been as good as his intentions,
the unfortunate individual would have sunk beneath the
waves, considerably sooner than in the ordinary course of
nature. Fortunately it missed him, but we noticed that,
although it fell quite near, the man made no attempt to
seize it.
8

MAN OVERBOARD

Meanwhile the Lascar boat's-crew had lowered the life-
boat— always kept in readiness — in incredibly quick time,
and with the third officer in charge, rowed rapidly towards
their comrade — followed slowly by the ship which had
been " put about " — but now, looking through our glasses,
we witnessed a strange sight.

I have said the boat was rapidly approaching what
we imagined to be the drowning man, but to our amaze-
ment the latter — as the boat drew nearer — swam deliber-
ately away from it, making such good progress, that it was
some time before it overtook him, and then ensued a
scene probably unique in the annals of nautical ex-
periences.

No sooner was the swimmer overtaken by the boat,
than he redoubled his efforts to escape, avoiding each
attempt his comrades made to catch him by diving
deep beneath the surface, whence he would reappear at
some distance from the boat, and swimming away from it
would dive again as soon as it approached him.

This went on for some time. Yet strangely enough,
the man while so determinedly evading rescue, seemed
equally determined to preserve his life, his extraordinarily
contradictory actions being apparently actuated by some
motive we could not fathom at the time.

At length, exhausted with repeated diving, he eventually
gave in, and one of the crew, putting his boat-hook through
his clothing, he was dragged into the boat, and bound
securely hand and foot, was brought back to the ship.

Next morning we learnt that the man — who was one
of the life-boat's-crew — having a day or two before been
reported by the coxswain of the boat and punished for some
trivial breach of discipline, had adopted this strange
method of revenging himself upon him, and others of the
crew, who had given evidence against him. The Captain —
after holding an enquiry — made over the culprit to his
comrades to be dealt with, and later in the day, from
cries we heard proceeding from the fore-part of the ship,
it was evident they were taking full advantage of the powers
they had been invested with !

The last days of the voyage passed quickly in prepara-
tions for landing, and one hot, steamy June morning,

9

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

found us proceeding slowly up the Hooghly to Garden-
Reach, where we shortly took up our moorings and were
boarded immediately by the usual crowd of passengers'
relations and friends, agents, touts and peons, etc., etc.

Amongst the latter was a gorgeous individual, dressed
in blue and gold, who — having discovered me by some
mysterious means — came up and salaaming, enquired in
broken English if I was " Gulbari Sahib," and as there
seemed none on board with a nearer claim to that name,
I replied that " I was."

He then handed me a letter which I found was from my
uncle, telling me to put myself in the hands of the bearer —
" Golann Ally " — who would transport me and my
belongings safely to his house, a task which he set about
at once.

Calling up three half-clad boatmen from one of the
many boats hovering round the ship, he soon had all my
traps into it, and begging that " my worship " would be
good enough to follow, we started for the shore. Here my
cicerone engaged a " Ticca Gharry " — the " four wheeler "
of Calcutta, and putting my traps on top, shut me up
inside, and mounting on the box beside the driver, we
started at a gallop.

I was received most cordially by my uncle, who seemed
much pleased at my having come out so quickly, and told
me he had telegraphed as soon as he had secured the
promise of an appointment, and that I was to have the
first vacancy that occurred, and in the meantime would
live with him. I was, therefore, some three months in
Calcutta, part of which time I devoted to learning " Hindu-
stani," and was finally appointed to officiate as an assistant
Superintendent of police in a vacancy caused by sickness,
and posted to Birbhum, a district some three hundred
miles up country. I lost no time in making preparations,
for I was heartily sick of life in Calcutta — which at that
season of the year was neither amusing nor enjoyable — so
purchased such articles as uniform, camp kit and a horse,
as speedily as I could.

Leaving Calcutta by the night mail, I found myself at
five o'clock next morning deposited bag and baggage at a
lonely roadside station, twenty miles from my destination.
10

FIRST APPOINTMENT

A 4i Dak Gharry " (literally mail-carriage) to which two
rat-like ponies were attached, was drawn up outside the
station.

Seated on the box wras a long-haired, weird-looking
individual, whose attire left room for much improvement
and addition, wTho seeing me approach jumped off his
perch and with a profound " Salaam " handed me a dirty
crumpled note wmich he produced from his waistcloth,
the only garment he possessed.

The note, I found, wras an invitation from my future
chief, to come straight to his house and put up there till I
could find one for myself.

This, my first experience of Anglo-Indian hospitality,
struck me as remarkable but was none the less acceptable,
so — my traps being piled up on the roof — I clambered
into the long, Palanquin-like structure, and we prepared
to start. I say " prepared " advisedly, for never had I
seen anything in horse-flesh so difficult to move — that is
in the right direction — as those twro caricatures of ponies.

Pigmies as they were, the stubborn resistance offered
by these little brutes was positively amazing. The first
attempt at progression resulted in a rapid movement to
the rear, only checked by the solid wall of the station
building. Then came a series of furious plunges ending
in a crash. Leaning out of the door I saw one pony
standing on its hind legs, pawing the air, wThile its com-
panion lay at full length on the ground.

As this appeared to me one of those occasions on which
an absence of body seemed preferable to presence of mind,
I attempted to get out, but warned by the violent gesticu-
lations of my airily clad friend above, I resumed my seat.
It wTas fortunate I did so, for scarcely was I seated, when,
with a tug which only the home-made rope harness could
have withstood, we were off.

Thrown from side to side and expecting every moment
to be capsized, I was borne along for the next mile or
so at a pace far exceeding any record ever made on
wheels. Fortunately, the road was broad and straight, and
the ponies, finally settling down, we reached the end of
the stage without mishap.

The rest of the journev was performed without adventure,

11

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

and at eight o'clock we pulled up at the Bungalow of my
host. He welcomed me with much kindness and hoped
I would make myself at home till I could find a house.

The next morning I was up by dawn and after an early
" Chota-Hazri " with my hospitable friend, accompanied
him to the parade ground to attend the morning drill.
As we approached I saw a large body of men, armed
with carbine and bayonet, who — clad in the picturesque
blue and red uniform of the force — presented a very
smart and soldier-like appearance.

In addition, there were some half-a-dozen squads of
recruits, in various stages of ignorance and inefficiency,
from the last caught agriculturist, still in rustic attire,
to the newly fledged constable, resplendent in blue and
red. Of the former, one, unmistakably the " Awkward
Squad," was being put through the Goose step, but to
words of command which sounded strangely to my ears.

For example : " Billing sthop giring grong," were
words I had never yet encountered, and " Comenshe
laf pot " was equally foreign to my ears, but then I
remembered that, to the uninitiated, parade ground
language is apt to be obscure at times and, unwilling to
betray my ignorance, I asked no questions.

My companion had, however, noticed my bewilderment
and, guessing the cause, explained that Drill Instructors,
being often illiterate men, learnt their Drill by rote, and
the strange words I had heard were intended to represent
" Balance step gaining ground," " Commence left foot."

In after years I came across many such curious render-
ings of English words and phrases, but these if not the
quaintest, were certainly the most ingenious.

After an hour spent on the parade ground we returned
home to a tub and breakfast.

At twelve o'clock we drove to the police-office where I
was duly initiated into the mysteries of police work proper.
Knowing little of the language and still less of official
routine, I sat lost in amazement at the mass of vernacular
papers placed before my chief and the rapidity with which
he disposed of them.

Then came the English correspondence, not nearly so
voluminous, followed by reports, etc., connected with the
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3

LIFE AT BIRBHUM

interior economy of the force, and this being the depart-
ment I was eventually to control, interested me greatly.

At five o'clock we knocked off work and driving home
changed into flannels, then hastily swallowing some tea
and toast, proceeded to the Judge's house, where we played
croquet as long as we could see the balls, then billiards and
pool up to 8.30.

Another tub, then dinner and bed brought to a close the
most enjoyable day I thought I had ever spent.

The above is a fair specimen of my daily life for the
next six months, except an hour or so each day with the
" Moonshee " — or language instructor — working for my
examination.

After remaining a month with my chief as his guest,
we arranged to " chum," as it is called in India, that is
sharing all expenses in proportion to our respective incomes.
This arrangement was much to my advantage, not only
from a pecuniary point of view, but because of the oppor-
tunities it afforded me of constantly obtaining the advice
and assistance of one so able and experienced as my
friend.

A soldier by profession, Major Barnes had done excellent
service in the Mutiny. But soldiering in times of peace
having no attractions for him, he had joined the new police
in the early days of its creation, hoping to find in it a field
for his untiring energy and brain.

He had succeeded beyond his expectations and, at the
time I write of was considered the best police officer in
the Province as well as one of the most popular.

One dark stormy night, some three weeks after we had
started our joint establishment, I was roused up about
twelve o'clock by a message from the Jail Guard, reporting
that one of the sentries had been struck by lightning.

On arrival at the Jail I found the Guard already turned
out, and the officer in command informed me that while
on his rounds between eleven and twelve he had received
no challenge from the sentry in box No. 4. Thinking he
was asleep, he advanced to make quite sure, when he saw
the man lying insensible on the floor, with half his clothing
burnt off, and his carbine lying beside him.

13

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

Following the officer to the box in question, I was
relieved to find the man, though still insensible, was alive
but apparently severely injured.

His " jumper " was rent from collar to skirt, disclosing
the dark skin beneath. The left side of his face, including
the eye, was terribly burnt, and from his forehead to the
breast bone was a broad red mark, as if seared with a
hot iron.

Examining the carbine, I found the stock all charred
and split, crumbling away in my hands as I lifted the
weapon up. The bayonet, which was fixed, and evidently
the cause of the disaster, was twisted and bent beyond
recognition.

I had the man removed at once to the police hospital,
where, for six weeks or more he hovered between life and
death, but eventually recovered, though with the loss of
his left eye. He confessed to me subsequently that
fearing the carbine with bayonet fixed, would attract the
lightning, he had propped it up against the wall — a breach
of discipline to which he probably owed his life !

14

CHAPTER III

Shortly after this I met with an adventure which, owing
to my own fool-hardiness, came very near to being my last.
I had been dining out and on my way home took the
opportunity of visiting the Guards. As I approached the
sentry at the Treasury Gate, I saw him suddenly reverse
his carbine and lunge at something on the ground.
Wondering at this strange behaviour, I ran quickly up to
find a huge " cobra," apparently just killed.

The district was infested with these deadly snakes,
and it so happened at dinner that night, there had been a
somewhat heated discussion as to the position and formation
of their poison fangs.

I was therefore delighted at this opportunity of gaining
information on the subject, and catching hold of the snake
by the throat, I forced its jaws open, and putting my
finger into its mouth felt along the teeth till I encountered
two sharp points, one on either side, which — with the aid
of a lantern — I discovered were the fangs.

Satisfied with my examination, I went out of the
building to visit the other sentries inside.

On my return, some fifteen minutes later, what was my
horror and amazement to see the snake, which I thought
dead, coiled up against the wall, and with head erect and
hood distended, keeping at bay the sentry and two jail
warders, who were making frantic but futile efforts to
despatch it.

I joined in the attack, and with the flexible cane I
carried had little difficulty in disposing of our enemy.
I found then that the wound originally inflicted by
the bayonet was only a flesh one, and though it had
stunned the snake for a time, had done it no material
damage.

15

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

I have had many an adventure with snakes and other
dangerous beasts since then, but to this day I shudder to
think what might have been my fate had the snake come
to its senses when my finger was half-way down its throat.

The next few months went uneventfully by. I had
passed my examination and was beginning to be of some
assistance to my chief when one morning I received orders
from " headquarters " posting me to the charge of a
sub-district force, many miles away.

My orders being peremptory, I decided to leave the
following day, and as the place to which I was appointed
was far removed from any railway line, my only means of
reaching it was by " Palki Dak," a slow and most unpleasant
mode of locomotion.

Journeys by " Palki," or Palanquin, to give this con-
veyance its Dictionary name, are only tolerable by night ;
I accordingly arranged to start at nine p.m.

A " Palki " of a superior quality had been specially
borrowed for my use, and as the time approached for my
departure, I went out to inspect it ; the interior, made up
into a small but comfortable bed, looked inviting enough ;
the clean white sheets and pillows suggesting an ease and
comfort I had not expected.

But never were appearances more deceptive — as I was
soon to learn.

Bidding my chum farewell, I managed with some
difficulty to stow my many inches within the limited space
at my disposal.

The bearers put their shoulders to the pole, and com-
mending themselves to their goddess " Kali " gave one
mighty heave, the Palki swayed from side to side, then
righted itself, and they were off.

For the next five miles or so, the discomfort I endured
baffles all description.

The quick, jerky motion of the Palki, the weary mournful
chant of its bearers as they shuffled along, at a pace that was
neither walk nor run, the dust kicked up by their feet,
added to the almost stifling heat was bad enough to bear.
But worse than them all were the fumes from the
" Mussal " — a primitive sort of flare composed of filthy
rags, bound round a bamboo stick.
16

JOURNEY BY PALKI

This evil -smelling torch, fed from time to time with
dirty, rancid oil, and carried close to the Palki door, was
doubtless a very necessary portion of the equipment,
but a more sleep-destroying contrivance it is difficult to
imagine.

However, like the proverbial eel, I became accustomed
to all these miseries in time and at length, strange as it
may seem, dropped off to sleep.

I must have slept some time, for I remember dreaming
I was being tossed in a blanket by a band of yelling
demons, over a cauldron of burning oil, into which I was
eventually to be plunged.

Fortunately the dream came abruptly to an end, for
just as I was taking my final flight into the air I was
awakened by a violent bump.

As my senses returned to me, I found the Palki on the
ground with all the " bearers " congregated round it,
shouting loudly, and evidently much excited.

It was some time before I could get any one to answer
my inquiries, but at last one individual, more collected
than the rest, informed me that a tiger had just crossed
the road in front of them, and they were afraid to go on.
As the road at this point was a mere cutting through
a dense jungle, it was quite possible some wild animal
might have crossed it, though I was inclined to doubt the
fact. The men, however, seemed so completely panic-
stricken that, to give them confidence, I fired a shot with
my revolver in the direction in which they said the beast
had gone.

A loud rustling in the jungle and then a rush of some
heavy body through it, followed the shot. Then, as
these sounds grew fainter and finally died away, the men
gradually recovered from their fright.

Still, half inclined to doubt their story, I examined
the spot the animal was said to have crossed ; and there,
sure enough, deeply impressed in the soft yielding dust,
were the footprints of a tiger.

This discovery seemed to renew the terror of the
bearers, and it was not until I had emptied the revolver
into the jungle that I could induce them to go on.

Our position was certainly a most unpleasant one, for

c 17

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

there were miles of dense jungle yet to be traversed. The
tiger might return at any moment, or another one be met
with, a Man-Eater perhaps — a contingency by no means
improbable in those days.

I need hardly say I slept no more that night, but with
the revolver in my hand and eyes and ears strained to their
utmost limits, lay longing for the dawn that seemed so
long in coming.

The air was full of strange, weird sounds, one in par-
ticular seeming to cause considerable commotion amongst
the bearers.

They told me it was the cry of the " Pheow," the name
given to an animal which is said to precede a tiger in its
prowl, and herald its approach. But, as a matter of fact,
this beast is an ordinary jackal, which when frightened
by the proximity of a tiger, or from any other cause, emits
a series of the most blood-curdling yells unlike any other
sound.

In the present instance a tiger was evidently the cause
of its emotion, for once or twice we heard the unmistakable
low, long-drawn moan, which proclaimed the dreaded
beast was still in our vicinity.

However, the night passed without further adventure,
and shortly after sunrise we reached the " Rest House,"
where we rested for the day.

The second night's journey was through cultivated
country, and by nine o'clock the next morning we reached
our destination. I found the man I was to relieve
anxiously awaiting my arrival, and his leave being urgently
required, I took over charge at once.

That evening, with the rapidity with which events
succeed each other in India, he departed en route to
England.

The only other European in the place was the assistant
magistrate, Barclay, whose house I was to share, and we
sat up half the night discussing plans for making our
future life as tolerable as possible. A thorough sportsman
in every sense of the word, he delighted me with his
accounts of the good pig-sticking to be had all round us,
adding that as the work was light, we should have plenty
of leisure for the slaying of the boars.
18

PIG -STICKING

This information was certainly most accurate for in
the twelve months I spent at this place we accounted for a
good many of them. The runs were generally exciting, but
one in particular deserves special mention.

We had sent the " beaters " one morning into a likely-
looking patch of grass, and had taken up our position on
the opposite side, about 200 yards or so apart.

Suddenly, without any previous sound or movement in
the grass, a huge boar dashed out of cover, and passing
close to where I was, galloped off at railway speed across
the open.

" Tally ho ! there he goes," I shouted to my friend,
and giving my eager horse his head, started in pursuit.
The pig was going all he could, but he was a heavy,
lumbering beast, and I knew my little Arab would out-
pace him. The boar seemed of the same opinion, for he
had hardly gone 200 yards, when, whisking suddenly
round, he came charging down upon us.

The horse, evidently anxious to hasten the encounter,
seemed to increase his already racing speed. Another
stride or two and there was barely ten yards between us
and the pig.

I held the spear well forward, to receive him on its
point, but in my hurry and excitement I must have raised
the blade too high, for the next moment I felt a violent
blow upon the ankle which, knocking my foot out of the
stirrup, came very near to unseating me.

Recovering myself, however, I found my right boot
ripped as if cut open with a knife, while a cold clammy
feeling under my foot warned me that something more
serious had occurred.

In the meantime the pig continued his career and was
making for a cover, half a mile away. My horse was
happily untouched, and turning him quickly round, we
resumed the chase.

The boar, now about 200 yards in front of me, was
going slower than before, and I rapidly gained upon him
till I was scarcely six yards behind.

Suddenly he disappeared from view and almost before
I had time to wonder where he had gone, I found myself
on the brink of a swamp which some bushes had concealed.

19

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

My plucky little horse made a gallant effort to clear
the gap, but it was too wide for him, and the next moment
we went floundering into it.

The shock of the fall separated me from my horse, and
I plunged head downwards into the slimy liquid ; fortu-
nately it was not deep, and I soon assumed a more dignified
position.

But my troubles were by no means over, for as I stood
up, half dazed, and immersed to the knees in mud and
water, the first object that my eyes encountered was the
boar making frantic efforts to climb out.

Happily the animal was too busy with his own affairs
just then to notice me, and I had time to recover my
senses — and my spear, which lay floating near, and seizing
it eagerly, I awaited further developments.

The boar, foiled in his attempts to scale the bank,
now turned and came plunging through the ooze towards
me. Whether he intended to resume hostilities, or merely
cross over to my side, I cannot say, nor had I much time
to conjecture, for a moment later he was on to me. I
made a desperate lunge at him, but must have struck
upon a bone, for the butt of the spear hit me a violent
blow upon the chest and hurled me backwards into the
mud.

As I fell I saw the boar dash past me, but hardly had
I scrambled to my feet when he turned and came thundering
down again.

Warned by my late disaster, I now grasped the spear
firmly with both hands, and holding the point low, let the
maddened brute run on to it.

The lozenge shaped blade, keen as a razor's edge,
caught him fairly in the chest, but failed to stop him,
and once more I was sent headlong back into the mud.
Fortunately, though severely bruised and shaken, my
senses did not leave me, and struggling to the surface I
saw the boar was lying dead beside me.

The spear, entering at the chest, had traversed the whole
length of the body, protruding quite a foot beyond. Death
must have been almost instantaneous, happily for me,
otherwise I could scarcely have escaped being cut.

I felt too sore to move, and sitting up to the neck
20

ON FAMINE DUTY

in the liquid mud, was wondering at my fortunate escape
when I heard the sound of horse's hoofs approaching.
A minute or two later Barclay came galloping up.

From the look of amazement on his face, I could see
that he was utterly dumfounded, as well he might be,
for I must have presented a most remarkable appearance,
but catching sight of the pig, he seemed to grasp the situa-
tion and, hooking his bridle to a branch, was soon beside
me. He helped me to get up the bank, then calling some
villagers, working in a field close by, got the pig up too,
and we sent it into camp.

We struck many a boar together after this adventure,
but none to equal this in inches or pugnacity !

Except for the " pig-sticking," life at this sub-district
was decidedly monotonous, and I was not sorry to see my
name in the Gazette one morning, posted on famine duty to
another district.

Barclay and I parted with mutual regret, and after two
days and nights of continuous travel I reached my
destination.

The great Bengal Famine of 1873-74 was just com-
mencing, and within forty-eight hours of my arrival I
found myself at the lonely police-station of Kusbah
Amour, forty miles from the nearest European, in charge
of a Relief Circle, 285 square miles in area, with a popula-
tion of over 14,000 souls.

The nature of my duties would be difficult to describe,
for each day brought with it something new to do, but
speaking generally, they consisted of distributing rice
gratis to all who could not work, and to provide employ-
ment for those who could.

My life was necessarily a lonely one, but fortunately
the work was hard, and left me little time to feel my
solitude.

Occasionally, too, I would meet with some adventure
in my daily tours which helped to relieve the monotony
of my existence.

One muggy day, for instance, towards the end of the
rainy season, I was out inspecting on an elephant, and
passing a village saw a crowd assembled on the outskirts
of a small jungle adjoining.

21

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

As I approached, a man and woman came running up
to me, and the latter, throwing herself at the elephant's
feet, filled the air with her cries and lamentations, while
the man in loud, excited tones related what had hap-
pened.

It appeared that his brother, the woman's husband, had
just been attacked by a leopard and so severely mauled
that he was not expected to recover.

I jumped off the elephant at once and pushing the crowd
aside, made my way to where the man was lying. I
found him terribly torn about the face and chest and
streaming with blood from head to foot.

I attempted to tie up the wounds, but it was a hopeless
task, and the man expired before I had well begun.

The leopard, I was told, was still in the jungle, and
as I had my shot-gun and some ball cartridge with me,
and the men seemed eager to drive out the beast, I re-
solved to try and shoot it.

I had not the faintest notion what I ought to do, but
instinct told me that if a noise was made on this side of
the cover, the animal would bolt out at the other. Telling
the men, therefore, to keep well together and shout, but
on no account to enter the jungle, I posted myself on the
further side of it.

From my elevated position I could see the men and
that one of them, whom I recognized as my original in-
formant, was there in front of the rest and with a drawn
sword in his hand, was jumping about, abusing the leopard
in no measured terms and daring it to come out.

I signed to him to keep back but without effect, and
was just about to have him forcibly removed, when
suddenly there was a savage roar, a mass of black and
yellow fur flashed before my eyes. I saw the man go
down, then heard a few muffled growls, and something came
crashing through the scrub towards me.

Before I had time to think, much less raise my gun,
the leopard had seized my elephant by the trunk !

What happened immediately afterwards I never could
quite tell, for during the next few moments I was not in a
position favourable for observation.

All I can recall is that our movements were extremely
22

ADVENTURE WITH A LEOPARD

rapid and irregular, bringing me at times into perilous
proximity to the leopard which still retained its hold.

The elephant, in its efforts to rid itself of the tenacious
brute, was dancing about with an agility strangely at
variance with its otherwise solemn and dignified appear-
ance.

In fact, to a spectator, the whole scene would have
been ludicrous in the extreme, but to one taking a leading
part in the performance the comic side was not so
apparent.

Fortunately the tussle was not of long duration, and
the next thing I remember was seeing the leopard hurled
violently back into the jungle, where it lay, fully exposed
to view, and though growling savagely, showing no inten-
tion of renewing the struggle.

We were now steady for a moment, and — taking
advantage of the situation — I put a bullet through its
head, then, forcing the elephant quickly through the
scrub, went up to where I had seen the man struck
down.

The villagers were all collected round the spot, shouting
and gesticulating as natives always do on such occasions ;
lying in the centre of the jabbering crowd was the body
of the man I had warned — at least, so I concluded, for
there were no features left by which I could identify him.
The top of the skull was smashed in as if with a sledge-
hammer, leaving the brain exposed, while the nose and
mouth were completely obliterated.

Happily death must have been instantaneous, for no
living thing could have survived that first terrific blow.
For the moment I was petrified with horror — to think
that within the space of two short hours two human lives
had been thus wantonly destroyed ! It seemed incredible.

It was a piteous sight, too, when later on the two
bodies were laid side by side, to see the new-made widows,
gazing intently at the mutilated features as if striving to
discover which of the two faceless bodies was that of the
husband she had lost !

I could bear the scene no longer, so giving each of the
two women half of the rupees I had, I hurried from the
spot.

23

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

A month or two after this tragic episode, the autumn
crop was harvested and the famine being now declared
over, all relief operations were closed. I was transferred
to another district, where, in the performance of my
legitimate but more prosaic duties, I passed two uneventful
years.

24

CHAPTER IV

I had now been nearly eight years in the police, and —
having passed all my examinations — was eligible for pro-
motion to the rank of " Acting " District Superintendent,
but a serious outbreak of " Dacoity " — i.e. robbery by
gangs of armed men — occurring in Serampore, a very
important sub-division of the district of Hughli, I was
posted there in charge of the sub-district police.

It was here I really gained my first experience of
crime and criminals in Bengal, as the southern portion of
my charge was teeming with " Dacoits," who had been
gradually increasing in number and efficiency owing to
absence of close supervision over the police and bad
characters during the last few years.

In most of the larger villages there were, and had
been for some time, gangs of these men, either unknown
to, or purposely ignored by* the officers in charge of the
police-stations, and who had now taken to making depre-
datory expeditions in large parties, all fully armed with
various lethal weapons — including old blunderbusses, horse
pistols and even the more modern percussion firearms.

They would select the house of some wealthy person in
a village, and in the dead of night, with lighted torches
in their hands, and awe-inspiring yells, burst open the door,
carrying off all that they could find — sometimes killing
the inmates if they resisted, and always subjecting them to
ill usage of the most barbarous kind.

As these Dacoits, or robbers, were invariably more or
less disguised — generally with their faces coloured and
wrapped round with cloths — it was difficult to recognize
them, and if by chance any villager happened to identify
one, and ventured to declare the fact, he would find his

25

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

house some night mysteriously on fire. In fact, the whole
country-side was in a state of panic as when some dreaded
Man-Eater takes up its abode in a jungle near a village,
carrying off from time to time some member of the com-
munity, for just as sudden and unlooked for were the
depredations of these gangs.

Such, then, was the condition of affairs when I took
charge of the sub-district — armed with elaborate instruc-
tions from my chief as to the course I should pursue to
stamp out these pestilential gangs. But with an effete and
— as I soon discovered — wholly untrustworthy police
force, I found the task was not an easy one. However —
like every workman, who must first put his tools in order
before he can expect to do good work — I commenced by
reforming my subordinates, and after having one or two
dismissed, and others exchanged for better men, I succeeded
to some extent, and at the end of a few weeks had a fairly
efficient staff.

And now — to make things more intelligible to those
who may not be Anglo-Indians — it is perhaps necessary
to explain that in India — with the exception of an Euro-
pean at the headquarters of each district — the whole
of the police force, from inspectors downwards, is composed
entirely of natives.

Every district — for police purposes — is divided into
so many sub-districts, each in charge of an inspector,
having under him as many sub-inspectors as there were
stations and outposts within his charge. In an ordinary
sized district there would be perhaps twenty police-stations
with an average of one out-post to each. A " District
Superintendent " — that is, the European officer in charge
of the police — is required to visit and inspect each station
and outpost at least twice a year, and as the distances
are enormous he can seldom do so oftener. Hence it
follows that for the greater part of the year the " station
officers " — i.e. the sub-inspectors — are necessarily left
pretty much to themselves, except for the supervision
supposed to be exercised by the inspector in his quarterly
inspections. Under these circumstances, and taking into
consideration the character of the natives, and the authority
with which these men must neces^nrilv be invested, it can
26

INDIAN POLICE SYSTEM

scarcely be wondered at that they should, at times, take
advantage of their position to serve their own purposes.
A sub-inspector of police within his own jurisdiction is
looked upon by the people as an official of very great
importance, and his powers of doing good or evil are
immense. His word is law, and he would be a bold rustic
who dared to dispute it, or appeal to a higher power.

The only remedy for this evil — for evil it still is in
spite of police commissions and so-called reformation —
is an increase in the number of European officers and
consequent closer supervision, for the European — although
he may occasionally blunder — can at any rate be relied on
to do his best and with an honesty of purpose. Unfortu-
nately this measure — however desirable it may be — is
practically impossible, for it would necessitate the doubling,
or even trebling, the existing number of European officers
— an increase of expenditure which, in the present financial
condition of the country, would not be possible.

The above brief sketch of the Indian police system
will explain better the difficult position I was in, also tend
to make clear any other police matters I may have occasion
to refer to later in this narrative, which as a record of an
Indian police officer's experiences must necessarily con-
tain much that would be otherwise unintelligible.

Having, as I have said, worked up my staff to a con-
dition bordering on efficiency, I now set to work collecting
information and eventually, with the aid of an " informer "
— an ex-convict and " retired " burglar ! in the pay of the
police — we succeeded in arresting several members of a
gang in the act of committing a Dacoity.

Amongst them was an individual who made a full
confession, implicating all the others and several more
whom we caught later. But — more important than all — -
divulged the name of a person whom he described as the
original organizer and supreme head of all the various
gangs.

This individual, whose complicity with these gangs
was, my informant implied, known to the police, was a
brother of one of the most influential and wealthy land-
owners in the sub-district, who lived in a village about

27

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

fifteen miles from my headquarters. He then went on to
tell me that amongst the four " chokidars " (village
policemen), there was one — Kali Dass — himself secretly
connected with the gang ! who, if offered sufficient induce-
ment, would give further information regarding this
individual which might lead to his arrest !

It is hardly necessary to say I kept all this information
to myself, and early the next morning rode out to the
village, where I had a secret interview with my recreant
subordinate, and, making full use of my recently acquired
knowledge, extracted an undertaking from him to give me
timely notice of his " friend's " next visit to his brother !

On my return I had a private audience with the sub-
district magistrate — an European recently posted here —
and obtained a search warrant from him, to be used at my
discretion, and filled in in his own handwriting instead of
by his clerk.

Having secured this important document, so necessary
for my plans, I spent the next week in visiting the villages
in the neighbourhood, quietly collecting evidence against
the man I wanted, and managed to obtain sufficient for
my purpose. Meanwhile I had issued orders to the rural
police of all the neighbouring villages to hold themselves
in readiness to assemble at a given point at eight o'clock
on a certain night — to be fixed later — on the pretext that
I wished to see whether they were all fit and properly
equipped for night duty.

About ten days later, I was seated smoking on the
verandah, one night after dinner, when my orderly reported
that there was some one outside who wished to speak to
me, and ordering him to be brought in, a man presently
appeared, dressed in the garb of a Faquir, or religious
mendicant, and making a low salaam — asked for alms.

Annoyed at his importunity, I was about to order him
off the premises when something in his appearance struck
me as familiar, and looking at him more carefully — despite
the ashes and paint-besmeared exterior — soon recognized
the saturnine countenance of the faithless Kali Dass.

Immediately I guessed that he had something important
to impart, and sending the orderly away — I asked him
what he wanted.
28

TRAPPING DACOITS

He came closer to me, and looking cautiously around,
whispered : " Sahib, the man your honour seeks will come
to his brother's house the night after to-morrow, and will
stay there for three nights."

" Good ! but how am I to know him, for I have never
seen the man ? " 1 asked, as this problem suddenly flashed
across my mind.

" The ' Huzoor ' * forgets that his slave too will be
there," replied the wily rogue, adding, " for am I not one
of those he has ordered to be present on a certain night !
and how can the poor chokidar disobey the order of the
4 Hakim ' ? " f

The marvellous intuition of the man amazed me
greatly, for I had said nothing to him of my plans, nor
had I breathed a word to any of my officers as to the real
object of the night parade I had ordered. But he had
evidently guessed its purpose, viz. to collect a sufficient
number of police to surround the house during the night,
preparatory to commencing the search next morning.
This discovery made me somewhat anxious, for since he
was evidently acquainted with my plans, what was there
to prevent him revealing them to his friend ? True, I
had promised if he did well in this case, I would endeavour
to have his past transgressions pardoned and in future
employ him as an " informer," still I felt doubtful whether
I ought to trust him further.

However, on thinking the matter over, I decided that
I would, believing that the inducement offered plus the
hold I had on him would prevent his playing false — and
therefore told him the details of my plan, then fixed the
night on which the parade was to be held.

Next morning I issued the necessary orders, then rode
into headquarters and arranged with my chief for a party
of the Reserve Armed Police to be sent to my sub-district,
as — in the event of my finding my man — there was every
probability of his arrest being resisted.

Shortly after dark, on the night fixed for my expedi-
tion, I sent off these men secretly, under a trusted officer,
with orders to halt within a mile of the village and to wait
there — concealed as far as possible — until I arrived ; and,
* Master. f Official.

29

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

about an hour later, walked down to the place appointed
for the parade.

Here I found assembled some fifty to sixty " chokidars "
— all armed with their formidable spears — drawn up with
some semblance to military formation — though anything
but martial in either dress or appearance. Some — the
4i acting " ones — were as nature had created them save
for a Ci pugri " and loin cloth round the waist, while others
were clad in cast-off soldiers' tunics and, so far as could be
seen — nothing else. Amongst this motley crew, resplen-
dent in a bandsman's uniform — minus the nether garments
— was my friend Kali Dass, who doubtless recognized me,
but his phlegmatic features betrayed no sign of recognition,
and who to all appearances seemed as ignorant of the end
I had in view as any of his brother " chokidars," who are
not as a whole a particularly intelligent body of men.

Nevertheless, the village " chokidar " (literally " one
who guards a post ") is a most important factor in Indian
police administration. Being himself one of the village
community, he is, as it were, a link between the people
and the regular police, and as he is in a position to know
all that goes on in his village, is required to attend the
police-station once a week, and report to the station officer
not merely the occurrence of any crime but also the
movements of bad characters, births, deaths, epidemics,
etc.

As a relic of an ancient Eastern feudal system, the
" chokidar," up to a few years ago, was a small landowner
himself, in other words was granted plots of " chakron,"
or service land, to be held in perpetuity, in return for which
he gave his services as " watchman " of the village. But in
later times these service tenures were gradually absorbed,
and as the original holders died their places were filled
by men appointed by the district authorities and
their services paid for in cash, levied under a special tax.
However, except in this respect, the old system still
obtains, and the " chokidar " is necessarily one of the
village community.

Theoretically, the system is undoubtedly an excellent
one, but in practice seldom produces good results, and many
30

A NIGHT MARCH

a village warden — like the faithless Kali Dass — employs his
leisure moments in criminal enterprises and intrigue, and
occasionally figures as the ringleader of a gang !

Having made a pretence of inspecting the tag-rag and
bobtail crowd, I informed them I wished by making a
night march to test their walking powers ! so — together with
some regular police I had collected — we set out for the
village, named by Kali Dass.

It was a tedious march, occupying some hours, but
about midnight we reached the outskirts of the village,
where I picked up the armed police and, now maintaining
the strictest silence, went on to the house which we pro-
ceeded to surround.

This was a bigger job than I had expected, for " the
house " turned out to be a group of several straggling
buildings occupying an acre or so of ground, and as it was
necessary to make my dispositions before the moon
betrayed our presence, the task was not an easy one.

However, all the arrangements were finally completed,
and the group of houses so completely fenced around by
men that it was impossible for any of the inmates to escape
without being seen.

This was all that could be done during the night, for
under the provisions of the law, a house-search is illegal,
if conducted between the hours of sunset and sunrise.
However, I was glad of a few hours' rest after the long march,
so taking up my position opposite the main building, made
myself as comfortable as I could.

31

CHAPTER V

About two hours of our vigil had gone past, and the
moon — which had risen shortly after we concluded our
arrangements — was now shining brightly, throwing into
relief the dark forms of the " chokidars " as they stood
like so many statues, their huge broad-bladed spear-heads
glistening in the silvery light.

So far there had been no sound or movement in any of
the buildings to indicate that our presence was so much as
suspected, and I was congratulating myself on the success
of our " surround," when I heard some one shouting from
a distant corner of the building. I ran at once in this
direction, arriving just in time to see a man running quickly
up a bamboo ladder — by which he had evidently been
attempting to escape. As I approached, he had reached
the flat-topped roof, and running along it, disappeared
into the building.

It appeared that the chokidar watching here was
apparently asleep, and but for the timely arrival of the
officer on his rounds — who came up as the man had nearly
reached the ground, he would probably have escaped. As
things turned out, however, I was glad he had attempted it,
for I now felt sure we had trapped our man ! Removing the
sleepy watchman to a less important post, I returned to
my own, and had been there about an hour, when a window,
just above me, was suddenly thrown open, disclosing the
head and shoulders of a man attired as a native gentleman,
and holding a formidable blunderbuss in his hands.

Addressing me in insolent Babu English, he shouted :
" Why you making this assemblage in the night time ?
— Annoying British subject when taking his repose ! " —
then, pointing the weapon at my head, proceeded to inform
me " that it was muzzle-loaded with bullet, which painful
32

THREATENED RESISTANCE

necessity would compel him to discharge unless I removed
myself and myrmidons at once."

From the appearance of the man I judged he was the
owner of the house and brother of the " gentleman " I
wanted, and, taking his threat for what it was worth,
I told him that I was the Police Superintendent, armed
with a warrant to search the house for one Bama-churon
Mukerjee, who was wanted by the police ! At the same
time removing my civilian overcoat, which I had put over
my uniform, showed him the warrant.

However, as he still maintained his threatening attitude,
I called up my reserve, and ostentatiously ordering the men
to load (with blank cartridge !) informed him that I would
commence the search as soon as the sun showed itself
above the horizon.

Seeing now that I was evidently in earnest, he retired
from the window for a while, presumably to consult has
friends, as he shortly reappeared and commenced harangu-
ing me in the quaint, long-worded, dictionary-English
so dear to the Babu's ear. Assuming an air of injured
innocence, he said, " My tumultuous conduct would be re-
ported to the headquarters and all other proper quarters,
not excepting Her Majesty the Queen-Emperor himself,
who would no doubt (spelt dought) see with his own hand
that such rampacious young police cub was given his
desert," and so on.

Happily even Babu eloquence has its limit, so after
exhausting himself and his vocabulary he slammed the
window to and retired, doubtless to devise some other
means for baffling my persistency.

An hour or so later, selecting from the score of villagers
now assembled two or three to act as witnesses and accom-
panied by some police and chokidars, including Kali Dass,
I knocked formally at the door of the main building and
demanded to be admitted.

After a few minutes' delay the door was opened by the
aforesaid voluble vituperator in person, now, strange
to say, most obsequious in his manner, who hastened to
assure me " that the personage I was in search of was not
in the house, otherwise he, as loyal subject in duty bound,
would immediately make delivery himself."

D 33

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

I thanked him for his good intentions and, quoting his
own words, replied that much as I regretted it, " painful
necessity compelled me " to carry out my duty and that
I should therefore proceed to search the house, and see
for myself if the man was there !

He seemed in no way disconcerted at my decision,
from which I concluded the man had been carefully con-
cealed, and that in such a maze of straggling buildings,
all probably connected by some passages with each other,
I should have some difficulty in finding him.

However, I was determined to succeed, even if my
efforts should extend over a week, so commenced my
operations by a search of the main building. There we
found room after room all apparently unoccupied, though
most were furnished with the squalid splendour peculiar to
houses of wealthy Eastern magnates.

In one room, for example, we found a valuable " Buhl "
table decked with pots of artificial paper plants obtain-
able in the bazaar at a half-penny a pot, while in another,
suspended from the ceiling, was a gorgeous chandelier
with crystal, silver-mounted pendants, and hanging from
each branch some paltry penny toy ! Cheap German
prints too were not wanting, mostly of an extremely
questionable character, and hanging side by side with
an occasional wrork of art. All and every other object
in the rooms covered with the dirt and dust of ages, and
presenting an incongruity of appearance impossible to
imagine or describe.

Hour after hour we searched with a patience and
perseverance worthy of a better cause and always with
negative results, for each building, as I had guessed, being
connected with the other, it was impossible with the few
men at my disposal, to search them simultaneously.
Finally, by mid-day, we had exhausted all the buildings,
and there was now nothing left but the women's quarters
or " Zenana " — always a troublesome factor in connection
with house-searches in India.

True, the law permits such premises to be searched
provided time is given for the occupants to turn out,
and if at the expiration of this period admittance is refused
empowers a police officer to enter forcibly, even to the

A HOUSE-SEARCH

extent of breaking a door open. Such extreme measures,
however, are generally avoided as far as possible, but
on this occasion I had every reason to believe the man we
were in search of was concealed in these apartments, for
they were situated at the extreme end of all the other
buildings, and the only outlet had been guarded throughout
the night. Under these circumstances I felt I had no
option in the matter, and accordingly, taking out my
watch, gave notice that I intended searching these quarters
and would commence in half an hour.

This information was received in sullen silence
suggestive of coming trouble, which at the end of the
time allotted made itself apparent, for when I knocked
at the door requesting to be admitted there was no reply.
I knocked again, repeating my request, but still there was
no answer, and on trying the door I found it was bolted
from within — a simple but most significant indication of
the attitude intended to be adopted in the event of my
proceeding with the search. I realized at once the critical
position I was in, for although I knew that in forcing an
entrance I should be well within the law, I was equally
aware of the scandal and sensation such action would
create. However, too intent upon the capture to think
much of the risks, I called to those inside that if not
immediately admitted I should burst open the door, and
as this threat had no effect put my shoulder to it and
pushed with all my strength.

A loud, rending crash, followed by piercing shrieks,
told me I had succeeded, and the next moment I found
myself in a large, rectangular apartment, in the centre of
which — clinging to each other — was a group of some
twenty apparently terror-stricken women, all yelling with
one accord as if assured their last hour had come.

That these were all ladies of the household was apparent
from their appearance and attire, most of them being
remarkably light complexioned, and all clothed in the
costly but somewhat diaphanous garments worn by
" Purdanashin " * women. Many of them were extremely
beautiful, of a somewhat Grecian type of beauty, and being
of a class never seen by Europeans, I could scarcely believe

* Secluded.

35

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

they were natives of the country, for the ordinary low-
caste Bengali woman is dark and seldom prepossessing
in appearance.

My sub-inspector and some men — amongst them Kali
Dass — had followed me, and as the latter wras, I thought,
gazing rather impudently at these ladies, I called him up
intending to rebuke him, when he wrhispered, " Sahib,
the man your honour wrants is concealed within that group."
Pretending to take no notice of this information, I told
him sharply to stand back, and addressing the group of
shrieking females generally, requested they would be so
good as to retire to the room adjoining.

Possibly my Bengali, being of the " kitchen " order,
was not intelligible to these " ladies of high degree ",
or, being too noisily employed, they could not hear
me. At any rate my request was not complied with,
and as I was about to repeat it, a door beyond was
opened by the owner of the house and, presumably, of the
ladies.

I had been wondering not without anxiety at his
long absence, lest he should be planning some organized
resistance, and was therefore much relieved to see him,
notwithstanding that his bearing now was anything but
pacific. He had evidently been listening, and my scheme
to disturb the sheltering group of women having upset his
wrell-laid plans he thought the best way of upsetting mine
was to resume his threatening attitude.

Addressing me again in blustering Babu-English he
demanded " by what authority I was molesting ladies in
secluded state by causing heart-rending anguish," and
advanced threateningly towards me, using his whole
vocabulary of Bengali abuse.

Doubling my fists I kept my eyes fixed on him, pre-
pared to hit out as soon as he was near enough, when it
occurred to me that in the circumstances a less violent
and more lawful method of defending myself would be
advisable, so calling to a policeman standing near me,
I ordered him to arrest this person for obstructing the
police " in the execution of their duty."

The constable, a stalwart "Rajput" with the racial
hatred and contempt for the "Bengali," was nothing
36

A BRIBE

loath, and springing forward at the order seized the Babu
round the shoulders.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of the confusion that
ensued, some of the women were making towards the inner
door, amongst them one who seemed much troubled with
her clothing, and in trying to adjust it the head portion
slipped off, disclosing a face adorned with a beard and
moustache ! I rushed forward just in time to seize her
— or rather him — as he was passing through the door.
He struggled desperately to escape, but a constable
coming to my assistance he was finally secured, and as
we brought him back into the room I caught a look on
the face of Kali Dass which convinced me that our captive
was the man we sought.

In the meantime our other prisoner, who since his
arrest had abandoned his defiant, threatening attitude, was
still in the custody of his captor, and as I took his brother
up to him for identification he threw himself at my feet
and after the manner of his kind begged to be forgiven.
He pleaded with some eloquence, despite his occasional
ridiculous phraseology, and when he thought he had said
enough about himself, interceded for his brother, who,
as he put it, " was a much malignand man, though
innocent as babe or suckling yet unborn." Unfortunately,
carried away by his anxiety to gain my favour, he finally
attempted the usual Eastern method and offered to pur-
chase what he probably considered was not otherwise
obtainable.

Suddenly prostrating himself again he clasped me
round the legs, and in the commotion caused by this
action whispered, " Rupees fifty thousand will make
present if brother rendered free."

It was a bold suggestion to make in such a crowd,
even in a whisper, especially to an European official in
the presence of his subordinates, but I could see the man
was temporarily " off his head," so let the insult pass
and only warned him " that if he dared to repeat it, I
would institute another charge against him."

This brought him to his senses, for he knew that to be
charged with attempting to bribe me would be a very
serious matter, and apologizing most humbly, begged that

37

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

" at any rate I would not so humiliate by putting on him
the hand-'coff ! " Here again he was most unfortunate
in his request, for I had not intended handcuffing the
man, but after what had just occurred I felt bound to
do so, and ordered them to be put on at once.

My action may appear Quixotic to the ordinary English
reader, but those who know Bengal and the character of her
people will understand my motive, for had I acted otherwise
there were many there ready to affirm I had done so because
of some inducement offered.

I may here mention that a few years before this a case
somewhat similar had occurred to a young European
police officer, who, thinking to " catch his man," laid
a trap for him. Pretending to accept the bribe, he fixed
a time and place for the payment to be made, previously
concealing some witnesses in the room. The man came
with the money, and as he was paying it, by a pre-
concerted signal, the witnesses appeared, and the payer,
caught in the act, was duly arrested and sent up for trial.
So far all had gone well, but when the case came before
the Court, its aspect was quite changed. True the witnesses
deposed to having seen the money offered, but added it
had also been accepted by the officer and carried off by
him in bags upon a cart, naming the cartman whom he
had employed.

Fortunately, and as frequently happens in such cases,
they tried to prove too much, and the cartman, who was
probably an after-thought, not as well tutored as the rest,
broke down in cross-examination and finally blurted out
the truth. It transpired later, that the friends of the
original accused, fearing the evidence against him was
conclusive, had bought over the witnesses, and by creating
this diversion had hoped to impugn the veracity of the
accuser, and thus discredit his accusation !

Having handed over my prisoner to the escort, and
released the other one on bail, we marched back in triumph
to my headquarters, arriving there late that evening.

The several charges against the accused were all
ultimately proved, and he was duly convicted and sent
38

CHARGES PROVED

across the seas to a penal settlement. His brother was
fined heavily for harbouring an offender, and Kali Dass,
the chokidar, secretly rewarded and employed as an
informer.

He turned out an excellent detective, and through
information supplied by him the police succeeded in arrest-
ing several members of the different gangs, and in finally
dispersing most of them.

39

CHAPTER VI

Some months after this I was promoted to act as District
Superintendent, and posted to Patna, one of the largest and
most troublesome districts in the Province, to officiate
for the permanent incumbent, proceeding on three months'
leave.

I was informed that on the return of the latter I was
to take over charge of the city police of that district, a
special force maintained at the chief town and head-
quarters, and noted for its fanatical and criminal popula-
tion, as well as for the prevalence of serious crime. In
these circumstances it occurred to me that, as a stranger
to these parts and possessing — as I have hinted — con-
siderable detective ability, Kali Dass might prove of some
use to me there.

Although a Bengali by birth he spoke the colloquial
Hindustani, a kind of Lingua-Franca, common to lower
Bengal, with considerable fluency, and with his natural
aptitude for adapting himself to the various disguises
he could assume was not likely to be easily detected.
Accordingly a few days before starting to take up
my new appointment, I sent for him one night and told
him of my proposal, adding that if he would go, I would
take him, ostensibly as one of my servants.

AA>er considering the matter for a while, he replied
that he would go, suggesting at the same time an amend-
ment in my plans as to the manner of his going, for with
the quick perception of a mind accustomed to planning
and intrigue he had detected the weak point in my arrange-
ments.

"If I go as the ' Huzoor's ' servant, every one will
know me, then what good can I do ? No, Sahib," he
continued. " Give me my road expenses, and I will find
my way mvself."
40

A "MIRSHIKARI."

Professional Bird- Catcher.

[Page 41.

A RESPONSIBLE POST

I agreed to this suggestion since there was no denying
the soundness of his reasoning, and giving him the money
he required, not without some misgivings as to whether
I should set eyes on him again, told him to resign his
present post at once and start as soon as possible.

Ten days later, I joined my new appointment, and for
the first week or so was in a condition of absolute bewilder-
ment with the amount and importance of the wrork I had
to get through in the day. From early dawn to sunset —
often later — I lived in an atmosphere of fusty papers,
perspiring " Mohurrus " * and native ink, the last the
most malodorous concoction that native ingenuity has as
yet produced.

Amongst the papers were many involving decisions of
terrifying importance which I was called upon to give in
writing, duly signed, and often I lay awake at night, cold
with apprehension, as I recalled some decision I had given,
lest it should rise up against me later — conclusive evidence
of some illegal thing I had ordered to be done ! However,
this feeling of responsibility quickly wore away and I soon
found myself callously giving orders in matters which in
England would probably require a Quarter-Session power,
if not the consent of the Home Secretary himself !
But such in those days, was a necessary feature in
Indian local administration before distances from central
authorities had been so reduced by telegraph and rail,
thus many important questions had to be decided by the
officers on the spot.

Meanwhile my time and thoughts had been so fully
occupied with my daily toil that Kali Dass and the plans I
had made concerning him had passed out of my mind,
when one evening, as I was walking home from office
along a lonely path, I was accosted by an individual
dressed as a " mirshikari " (or professional bird-catcher),
and carrying the pole, leaf screen and basket — instruments
of his trade.

" Salaam Sahib," he said, making a low obeisance,
" Will not your Highness buy some Ortalons from the poor
shikari ? " Then — on my answering somewhat angrily —

* Clerks.

41

A CLEVER MAKE-UP

intrigue, would render him even more useful than I had
imagined.

However, having neither time nor inclination for any-
extra work just then, I told him to continue his enquiries
and report to me occasionally as opportunities offered.
Then, giving him some money for his expenses, I dismissed
him. As he went slouching off, I could not but admire the
marvellous skill with which he had adapted himself to the
role ; together with the clothes, he seemed to have put
on the gait and bearing peculiar to men of this profession,
even to their mode of carrying the implements of their
trade which he imitated as if to the manner born.

I have omitted to mention that in addition to my duties
as Superintendent of the district police, I was also respon-
sible for the working of the city force, which was under
the control of the senior of my two assistant superintendents,
the other being attached to my office at headquarters.
Unfortunately, both these young officers, shortly after my
arrival, had been taken ill with fever and transferred to
more healthy districts, without being replaced by others.
Hence the whole burden of the work had been thrown upon
my shoulders to the extinction, or at any rate postpone-
ment, of my detective schemes.

Hence I was not sorry to hand over the office to the
permanent occupant on his return from leave and whom
I now met for the first time, his health having necessitated
his leaving before I arrived. His name was O'Malley and
his nationality as equally unmistakable. Several years
my senior in the force, he was a contemporary and friend
of my cousin, of whom mention has been made, and like
him a keen sportsman and thoroughly " good sort." He
was much interested at the relationship and greatly regretted
that we should not be able to " chum " together since,
under the rules, it would now be necessary for me to live
in the city. " By the way," he continued, " how do you
like the idea of that appointment ? I am afraid you will
find the work pretty hard ! "

" I like the idea of the appointment well enough," I
replied, " and as for the work it could not well be harder
than what I have had the last three months, but "

44 Oh, I know," he interrupted, 44 and I was awfully

43

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

sorry when I heard the two youngsters had been trans-
ferred, but after all they wouldn't have been much use to
you, perhaps, as they were both so inexperienced."

" No, perhaps not ; but, as I was going to say, it will
be rather a dull life, so far away from the station and with
nothing but natives round one, won't it ? " I asked.

" I don't think you need worry about that," he replied.
" Your house is only four miles from the station, and as
you have a trap you can always come in every evening.
So long as you sleep always in the city, I shall not object."

I thanked him for this concession, much relieved to
find that I should not be so cut off from society as I had
feared, and we then went on to the office to make, and take
over charge, respectively, and sign the necessary papers.

That night after dinner, while discussing my future
duties, I confided to him, as my superior officer, the plans
I had formed in conjunction with Kali Dass, for his
approval and advice.

He seemed at first to think that the plan, though good
enough in theory, was unlikely to be successful, but
after questioning me closely about the character and
qualifications of my coadjutor, he considered the matter
for some time, then said : " Well, perhaps there is something
in it ; any way try it by all means and I will help you, for
if crime is to be checked in the city it must be by some
method other than any we have as yet been able to
devise."

Accordingly before we parted for the night it was
settled that I was to work out the scheme as arranged, and
he on his part would see that the police outside the city
were not too officious and searching in their enquiries
regarding faquirs, bird-catchers and such-like individuals,
whom they might find outside the city limits.

The next morning the sun was well up in the heavens
before I awoke. Determined to indulge in what officials
in India term " an Europe morning," I had given strict
orders not to be called, for it was to be a " dies non " for
me — a luxury I had not enjoyed for many a day past.

The gliding, ghost-like movement of the " bearer "
had not, therefore, disturbed my rest that morning, nor
his monotonous repetition " that the hour of five had
44

NEW QUARTERS

sounded and my honor's horse was ready saddled at the
door." Nor had he made his presence felt materially by
pulling my big toe, as was his wont, when all other means
had failed to rouse his sleeping master.

For the first time for three months, I had been per-
mitted to awake without this maddening process, and in
nature's pleasing way, and surprised to find the sun so
far advanced, jumped hastily out of bed.

I found my above-mentioned tormentor seated at the
door — evidently taking advantage of the situation by
indulging in some extra sleep himself, and delighted at
this opportunity of paying off old scores, I shook him
roughly into wakefulness, then, forgetting the orders I had
given, abused him for having let me sleep so long !

" It was the ' Sahib's ' order before he went to sleep
that his slave was not to call him," he replied with charac-
teristic calmness, then informed me that " His Excellency
Omali Sahib had left word that he would be back to
breakfast at half -past ten."

The rest of the morning was devoted to sending off my
heavy luggage, and the few articles of furniture I possessed,
to my new abode, and in the evening I drove out and
inspected it with O'Malley, prior to taking up my residence
next day.

During dinner that night, and afterwards over our pipes,
our conversation was mainly on " shop " — the Anglo-
Indian's equivalent also for business — for in the giving
and taking over charge of a large district there is much to
be discussed ; the in-coming man being naturally anxious
to know the special points requiring his particular attention,
many of which, being often of a confidential nature, are
not to be gathered from the registers in the office. For
example the suspected disloyalty of any of the native
landed gentry in the district, or perhaps a suspicion of
dishonesty on the part of any of the subordinate officers of
the force, and such-like matters which, though undesirable
to place officially on record, are nevertheless important
for the in-coming officer to know.

In the present instance, however, having been merely
O'Malley's " locum tenens," I had little information to
impart, but on the contrary much to acquire regarding

45

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

my new post, which, as already stated, was one of con-
siderable importance both from a criminal and political
point of view, and as my host was only too willing to tell
me all he knew, I thus acquired a good deal of useful
knowledge.

We sat up talking late into the night, and the next
morning early, bidding my host and future "CO." a
temporary adieu, rode out to the city and assumed control
of the police from the inspector temporarily in charge.
I soon settled down in my new quarters and found the
house most comfortable though lonely, from an European's
point of view. It was a substantial brick building raised
some six feet off the ground, with one long room in the
centre and two smaller ones on either side enclosed by
verandahs. Its situation, however, left much to be
desired, for it was in the very centre of the city, sur-
rounded on all sides by palatial native mansions, floridly
magnificent in appearance, but squalid and insanitary in
fact, and occupied chiefly by rich bankers, merchants,
jewellers and such-like city magnates.

The " city " itself was some seven miles from end to
end and about 1| to 2 in depth. A broad, metalled road
ran through the centre, and dotted along this, at intervals
of about a mile, were my six police-stations, each with an
" outpost " or two in the interior some distance off the road.

The population was enormous and out of all propor-
tion to the area, exceeding, so far as I remember, that
of the whole district, and composed, as I have already
observed, largely of the criminal caste and classes and
sects of turbulent, fanatical Mohammedans.

Under these circumstances it will be understood that
the office I held was no sinecure, nor were the number of
officers and men under my control sufficient to cope with the
work, much less to exercise anything like efficient supervision
over the criminals and their numerous organizations.

Thefts and burglaries were of daily occurrence, of the
latter often as many as seven or eight a night, but with
never a clue to any one of them, till, finding they were
apparently impossible to detect, I attempted preventive
measures, exhausting myself and my subordinates by my
unsuccessful efforts.
46

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

This condition of affairs had continued for so long that
the police had become callous, and I would probably have
followed their example but for the plans I had formed and
the encouragement they had met with by so able and
experienced an officer as my chief.

One morning, on arrival at my office which was just
across the road, I noticed that the man who usually pulled
the " punkah " was not there, but, to my amazement,
standing in his place behind my chair, with the rope in his
hand, was my friend Kali Dass. There was no look of
recognition on his face, but merely " salaaming " to me as
I came in, he commenced his duties as naturally as if the
pulling of an office " punkah " had been his regular means
of livelihood all his life. He was not in any way disguised,
and except for a stubbly beard and toothbrush-like
moustache, was much the same in appearance as when I
had first seen him, minus his chokidar's uniform.

Concealing my astonishment as well as I was able, I
called in the head constable, who acted as my clerk, and
asked him what had become of the regular man.

" He seriously attacked with cholera, your worship, so
this man appointed locum tenens, pending convalescence
of permanent incumbent ' in few days '," replied the
young " Behari " * glibly, glad of this opportunity of airing
his knowledge of official English.

Meanwhile I had realized the full value of this arrange-
ment, from my point of view, and sincerely hoped the
" permanent incumbent " would postpone his convales-
cence for an indefinite period. At the same time, I was
at a loss to understand how Kali Dass — astute though I
knew him to be — had succeeded so far in gaining the
favour of the clerk as to obtain the post. For the appoint-
ment of punkah-puller to the police-office was one much
coveted by all persons following this monotonous calling,
not so much for the emolument, but in the hope of
picking up official secrets, to be subsequently exchanged
for pice or rupees, according to their value.

* A native of Behar, a division of Bengal.

I

47

CHAPTER VII

For the first day or two following the installation of Kali
Dass as punkah-puller, I was most careful never to address
him except in the presence of the clerk, when I would
occasionally call him angrily to pull — quite unnecessarily
I may observe, for he was the best punkah-coolie I had
met !

But one day I found my opportunity. My private
office was beyond the one used by the clerks, and one
morning, on the plea of there being too much noise, I
ordered the door between us to be shut, intimating at the
same time that I had some important work to do and was
not to be disturbed. No sooner were we alone than I
turned to my quasi punkah-puller and asked him how
he had succeeded in obtaining the appointment.

He seemed anxious to evade the question, but when I
repeated it, replied : " How can I tell the Hakim of such
things ? He would not perhaps believe them, then beat
his slave for telling an untruth ! "

" Nonsense ! " I exclaimed angrily. " If you tell the
truth you need not fear a beating."

" Well, if the Huzoor insists, I will tell him," — and
coming up closer, said in a low voice that he had obtained
the post in the " usual way."

" What do you mean by the usual way ? " I interrupted,
failing to catch his meaning.

Then, hesitating for a moment as if wondering how I
would receive the information, he went on to tell me that
according to " Dustoor " * he had paid certain sums of
money to the clerk, and other employees in the office —
including the office sweeper ! and having offered more
than the other candidates — he had been appointed ! I

* Custom.
48

NATIVE OFFICER'S INDISCRETION

had no reason to doubt his statement, for the mere fact
of an outsider being successful was sufficient evidence in
itself, such acting " jobs " being generally given to a
relative or friend of some one in the office.

Unfortunately, I could take no action in the matter
without implicating my informant, which would have been
fatal to my plans, for even if he escaped, he would be a
marked man from that day, to be hunted down by the
police, and consequently useless for the part he had to
play. Yet I felt I ought to take some notice of the
case, for the offence committed was too serious to pass
over. So, after thinking the matter over, decided to
report it to O'Malley and ask his advice. Meanwhile
I administered a long lecture to Kali Dass, enlarging
on the seriousness of his offence, ending with a severe
sermon to be more circumspect in future, and after
the day's work, drove in to the station to consult with
my chief.

It was late when I arrived and found him at the Club,
playing Following-Pool. " Hullo, you're just in time to
take a ball," he called out as I appeared at the door.
So I took the last one, and we finally " divided," much
to his surprise, for I was a bad player and usually lost my
" lives " early in the game.

We played on till nearly dinner-time, when he took me
home to dine, and afterwards, while sitting smoking in the
verandah, discussed the business I had come in about,
from every point of view. His first impulse, naturally,
was to take immediate action, but remembering the
assistance the chief culprit was likely to afford us, he
decided to let the matter stand over for the present, and
to merely transfer my office staff as if in the course of
ordinary routine.

An hour or two later, feeling much relieved in mind
at having thus transferred the burden of responsibility,
I started back for the city, with parting instructions
from my host " to keep my eyes open " and to submit
a report of the case in writing, confidentially, the next
day!

I have related this incident — of little interest in itself

E 49

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

— only to show how impossible it is for the European
police officer in India to know what his subordinates are
doing, even when under his own eye, and how much less
control the doings of those employed in the interior,
many miles away !

However, after this event I had many opportunities
of conferring with Kali Dass, who during his leisure hours
collected much valuable information regarding the bad
characters of the city, with some of whom he had frater-
nized as one of their profession. Still the thefts and bur-
glaries continued with unabated frequency, when one
morning he informed me he had discovered the principal
offenders, and mentioned the names of four persons, already
known to the police and borne on the register of bad
characters.

" If your honour," he continued, " wrill deign to follow
the advice of his poor slave, the ' Sind choris ' * that
occur nightly may be stopped to some extent."

" Very well, Kali Dass, if your plan is good I shall
be glad to try it, so tell me what it is," I replied, curious
to know what this plan could be, yet fearing it might be
something too drastic or illegal for adoption.

" It is this, Sahib — quite easy to be done too. The
Huzoor has two punkah-pullers at night; let him say
these men do not pull well, also that two are not sufficient
and he must have four, and make these four the men that
I have named ! "

" But these men are under supervision and the con-
stables on their beats visit them each night and find
them always present ! What advantage would it be then
to have them at my house ? " I observed, failing to see
the drift of his suggestion.

" The Huzoor of course knows best," he replied, " but
5 Rs. a month will purchase many favours and makes it
easy for the constables to report they found them present,
or to mistake the voices of the women, when they answer
for their husbands ! "

This purposely vague but none the less convincing
accusation threw a new light on the subject and I began

* Burglaries.
50

SUSPICIOUS PUNKA-PULLERS

to see there was something in his scheme, which was as
bold as it was unique and, like most good inventions,
remarkably simple despite its ingenuity.

But it had yet to be considered how far I should be
justified in compulsorily employing these men as private
servants, or how I could do so without exciting some
suspicion in their minds. I therefore replied that I would
think the matter over, and my clerk, knocking for admit-
tance at the moment, ended the conversation.

Later in the day I sent for the register, and looking
up the names found to my delight that in all the monthly
enquiries made about them, each of the men was reported
to be " without any ostensible means of livelihood."
This gave me an idea for putting the design into execution
without raising any suspicion, and sending for the in-
spector, I told them that in view of the scarcity then
prevailing, and the difficulty of obtaining work, I was
willing to give employment in rotation to such men on
the register who had no occupation, and that as I re-
quired four night punkah-pullers at once I would take on
these four men if they would consent to do the work at
the usual rate of pay.

As a further inducement I authorized the officer to
tell them that if they did their work well during the time
they were employed, it was quite possible that the " strict
supervision " now exercised over them might be relaxed.

The inspector went off "to make arrangements," loud
in his praises of the " generosity and interest manifested
in such low-born sons of Satan, unworthy of being noticed
by one in my magnificent position " — little suspecting the
real reason of my " generosity and interest ! "

The next morning he brought these men before me,
four truculent looking " Dusadhs " ; * they all expressed
their willingness to accept my offer — tutored probably by
the inspector — also possibly influenced by the fact that
they could not well refuse without betraying their secret
and more lucrative occupation. Doubtless, too, the chance
of escaping police surveillance was an additional induce-
ment.

However, whatever their reasons might have been,

* A low class of Hindu, generally criminals.

51

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

they accepted their appointments and that evening were
duly installed as my night punkah-pullers and located in
my back verandah, the orderlies on night duty being
secretly instructed to see that none of them left during
the night.

I may here observe " par parentheses " that I never
spent a more comfortable night, for the men, accustomed
doubtless to keeping awake all night, pulled splendidly,
with a vigour and continuity seldom found amongst
professional punkah-pullers, many of whom pull lying on
their back with the rope tied to the big toes.

I awoke the next day feeling most refreshed, having
slept sounder than I had done for days, and went over to
the office at once, anxious to learn the result of my singular
experiment, yet quite prepared to find that it had failed.
Imagine my delight then, when on hearing the reports
from all the stations I found that two burglaries only
had occurred during the night !

However, as this might easily be due to other causes, I
could not come to any definite opinion for a day or two but,
when a fortnight had elapsed with one, two, or at most
three such cases in a night, I came to the conclusion that
Kali Dass had not erred in his detection of the principal
offenders !

At the end of a month I totalled up the daily number,
and comparing them with the average of the previous six
months found to my amazement and delight a decrease of
nearly eighty cases !

I scarcely knew which to discredit — the evidences of
my eyes, or the accuracy of my arithmetic, and tested the
latter again and again always with the same result. I
then sent for the inspector, thinking he might possibly
suggest some other reason for these extraordinary results.

" Go through these figures, inspector, and tell me what
you think of them," I said, handing him the book. " Well,"
I asked, when he had finished. " what do you make of
them ? "

" I am at a loss to understand, Sir, this extraordinary
matter, but I surmise that those four c Budmashes ' *

* Bad characters.

53

DECREASE OF BURGLARIES

who pull your Honour's punkah have something like concern
in it."

" Do you really think so ? " I replied, assuming an air
of astonishment, " Well in that case, they must go on
pulling it until we can find others more deserving of such
employment to relieve them."

" Very good, your Honour, they shall be found when
wanted," replied the old officer, and from the faint
semblance of a smile on his usually solemn features, I could
see that he had quite grasped the situation.

However, as the time went on no necessity arose for
making any changes, and after a few weeks, I dismissed
these men, warning them that if crime increased again,
I should know where to look for the cause. The effect of
these measures, however, lasted for the whole period I
was in charge. As I heard later, the source of my informa-
tion being unknown, native superstition came to my
assistance, and rumour got abroad that the Sahib possessed
some supernatural power of discovering the persons who
committed these offences !

Meanwhile the decrease of work gave me more time to
myself, and I now drove more frequently into the station,
after office, for racquets and billiards at the Club, usually
dining there with some one and returning late at night.
On one of these occasions I had been playing billiards
after dinner with Weston — a man I often dined with —
and left the Club rather earlier than usual, as he had been
out shooting all day and wras feeling tired, as he supposed,
but we arranged to meet again next evening.

The next day, having some inspection work to do, I
left the house, shortly after mid-day, intending to return
about four o'clock to dress and drive into the station, but
was unexpectedly delayed, and when I had finished,
finding I was nearer the station than the house, decided
to go in. It was nearly five o'clock, a time when Anglo-
Indians usually go out " to eat the air " (Howah Khana),
but to my surprise, there was not a rider on the race course,
nor a carriage driving round it.

On arrival at the Club, I found it equally deserted, and
was informed by the Club Bearer that " the Sahibs had
all gone to attend the funeral of a Sahib who had died

53

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

early that morning " — mentioning the name of a young
44 planter " I knew slightly. This news was no surprise
to me as he had been seriously ill for several days, still
in most Indian civil stations, where the number of Euro-
peans is comparatively small, a death — even if the deceased
was merely an acquaintance — induces one to reflect more
seriously on the uncertainty of life.

Occupied with such thoughts, I had been sitting for
some time, trying to divert them by looking through the
illustrated papers, when the sound of approaching wheels
and clatter of horses' hoofs on the hard, metalled road
attracted my attention. Presently the usual " habitues "
of the Club came in in twos and threes, all looking
strangely unlike themselves in their unaccustomed black
garments, so curiously in contrast with their every-day,
unconventional attire. Amongst this sombrely clad
assemblage was O'Malley who, evidently surprised to see
me ordinarily apparelled, enquired " whether I had not
received a notice of the funeral ? "

44 No," I replied, " I left the house early and have
only just heard of it from the bearer."

" Terribly sad, isn't it ? " he continued, " and so
awfully sudden too. Poor chap, he was quite well an
hour or two before he was attacked ! "

4 Yes," I answered, hesitatingly — wondering what he
was referring to — 44 By the way, was Weston at the
funeral ? He doesn't seem to have come in with the
others, yet he arranged to meet me here this evening ? "

i4 Weston ! " he exclaimed, looking at me as if he
thought my senses had forsaken me. 44 Weston ! Why,
he is the poor fellow I was referring to, and whom we have
just buried ! "

44 Buried ! — Weston ! " I cried in horror-stricken amaze-
ment, as I realized the meaning these two words conveyed.
44 But surely there must be some mistake ! Why, I was
playing billiards with him up to eleven o'clock last night,
and he was then as well as you or I ! "

44 Yes, that's the awful part of it — as I was just saying
— but an hour after you had left he was attacked with
cholera in its most virulent form, and died early this
morning ! "
54

A SUDDEN CALL

"Good heavens, is it possible!" I exclaimed as he
concluded, and still unable to realize the fact, questioned
him again, but, alas it was too true. The poor fellow had
evidently caught a chill out shooting and cholera, being
prevalent at the time, had seized this opportunity of
securing another victim.

As soon as I had to some extent recovered from the
shock, I explained to O'Malley how the bearer had misled
me, and we subsequently discovered that the latter,
hearing there had been a death in the station, had with
characteristic carelessness jumped to the conclusion that
it must be the young planter — the only " Sahib " he had
heard of as being ill !

• • • • • •

I have related this incident, not with any desire to
be sensational or to harrow the feelings of my readers
unnecessarily, but only as an illustration of the dangers
that beset the European in India, and against which his
superior training and physique are of no avail.

Cholera and venomous snakes, to which may be added
the equally sudden and fatal sun-stroke, are some of these
elements of destruction which, like unexploded bombs,
any Englishman in India must be prepared to encounter,
not knowing at what moment any one of them may
explode.

55

CHAPTER VIII

The hot months of the year dragged on their weary length,
each day seeming to increase the number of its hours, and
the nights likewise interminable. June had succeeded
May, bringing with her those cloudless skies so dreaded
by Anglo-Indians at that season of the year.

The hot west wind, rising shortly after dawn, con-
tinued with increasing violence to blow throughout the
day and often long past the hour of sunset, with occasional
cyclonic dust storms to complete its irritating effects.
Cholera, which had hitherto been more or less sporadic —
as is customary in the months of May and June, now
suddenly broke out in epidemic form, nearly decimating
the city and bazaar, and claiming two other European
victims, one of them the civil surgeon of the district !
Then, as if satisfied at having vanquished its principal
opponent, disappeared as mysteriously as it had come.
During the continuance of the scourge, all in the
station passed an anxious time, assembling each evening
at the Club as usual, and wondering when they parted
which amongst them might be missing the next evening !

Living as I was in the heart of the great city, with
the pestilence raging round me, and hearing every night
the wailing of the women as some member of their house-
hold was attacked or expired, I soon became more hardened
than the others. Moreover, my duties necessitating my
visiting the numerous " Mohullahs," or divisions of the
city, to test the reports of my subordinates as to the
progress of the disease, I had the benefit derived from
being more or less continuously and actively employed.

In the course of my visitations, I came across some
curious superstitions held by the natives as to the manner
in which the disease originated or was conveyed from
house to house, as they supposed, or believed,
56

CHOLERA

On one occasion an old man of whom I had been
making some enquiries informed me, with every appearance
of sincerity, even shuddering as he recalled the dread
incident, " that on the night his son fell ill, a huge green
monster of fish-like form, its nostrils emitting fire, had
come floating through the door, and hovering a moment
over the boy's head, had vanished through the roof ! "

This monster — he declared — had been seen by many
others, on similar occasions, and was well known to the
people as the " Haiza-Bhut " or cholera fiend — and
generally appeared during an epidemic !

I tried to reason with the man, but found it quite
impossible to convince him of his error. " He had seen the
thing with his own eyes," he persisted, " and had not his
son died immediately after it appeared ? "

It is difficult to argue with men so steeped in super-
stition as to believe in such extraordinary nonsense,
probably the teaching of their " Gurus " * with a view to
extorting money for the pretended propitiation of " bad
spirits " of this kind, and after exhausting all my eloquence
and, finally most of my strong language, I gave up the
attempt.

The epidemic lasted for a fortnight or three weeks,
and then disappeared, as I have observed, as suddenly
as it came, but not before we had had the first heavy
shower of rain, heralding the advent of the big " Bursalt "
as the rainy season is termed. This set in towards the
latter end of June, commencing one morning with a
thunder-storm of unusual severity, the sky being one con-
tinuous blaze of light from the flashes of forked lightning
which, succeeding each other with scarce a moment's
interval, blended the accompanying peals of thunder into
one continued, detonating roar as terrifying to the senses
as it was dangerous in fact.

One of the houses adjoining mine was struck and a
woman on the verandah, holding an infant in her arms,
killed instantly, while the child, strangely enough,
escaped without injury and, except for a slight bruise
occasioned by its fall, was none the worse for the adventure.
The storm, continuing for some time, finally died away,

* Pries t3.

57

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

leaving the clouds behind it from which the rain, no
longer diverted by the wind, now descended vertically
in one vast column of water, almost opaque in its density
and with a force which might be estimated roughly, by the
uproar it created on the house tops and the pools it quickly
formed upon the earth, baked hard with months of
scorching sunshine.

For two days and a night it rained with varying force,
but never ceasing for a moment, induing man and beast
and plant alike with fresh life, and cleansing the fouler
portions of the city and bazaar in a manner no artificial
means could possibly have accomplished.

On the third morning the sun again appeared and, as
it gained in height and power, soon dispelled the little
moisture remaining on the surface of the ground. For
heavy as had been the rain, it was as nothing to the thirsty
soil beneath, which absorbed it as quickly as it fell, presently
to return it in volumes of hot air.

To live in an atmosphere so charged with steamy
vapour is not the most enjoyable existence, nor one
calculated to improve the constitution or the temper —
if we include the accompanying torment from mosquitos
and prickly heat ! But any change seemed preferable
to what one had endured before the coming of the rain and,
personally, of the two culinary operations to which the
European in India is periodically subjected, I found the
boiling process on the whole less uncomfortable than the
other !

This steamy condition of the atmosphere continued,
with occasional heavy showers of cooling rain, to the
middle of July when " the rains " set in in earnest, lasting
almost without intermission till September. By this time
the country all round the city was practically under water,
with here and there an island where the people, from
wisdom gained by past experience, had erected their
habitations, content to be occasionally submerged rather
than live in comfort further from the city. Moreover,
being mostly cultivators of "Paddy," the low-lying lands
around were best suited to their purpose, as this crop,
at a certain period of its growth, requires to be partially
submerged.
58

A DAY'S SPORT

While the heavy rains continued, the days and nights
were comparatively cool — consequently life was more
enjoyable. My work, too, during this period was consider-
ably lighter, wet dark nights and flooded by-ways
making night excursions an uncomfortable amusement.
Hence crime, already much reduced, thanks to Kali Dass'
ingenuity, was still further decreased, for the town-bred
native, even though burgling be his particular occupation,
is not partial to working in the wet.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of the situation, I passed
most of my leisure time in the " Paddy fields " around —
up to my knees in mud and water — in quest of the early
snipe, which were now coming in in their hundreds.

These birds, wherever they migrate to after the cold
weather, generally return about the middle of September,
alighting in the Paddy fields, where they rest a day or two,
prior to seeking a more permanent abode. The sportsman
who chances on a wisp of these new arrivals should, pro-
vided he is a fair shot, account for most of them, as the
birds, tired after their long flight, are loath to rise, and
when they do they fly heavily and straight, and settle down
again a few yards ahead.

It was my good fortune to come upon two or three
such batches, and though but an indifferent shot the
number of birds I picked up on each occasion seemed so
incredible that I refrain from mentioning the figure lest
I should be credited with the powers of a Munchausen,
and the whole of my doings be henceforth regarded with
suspicion. It is, nevertheless, a fact known to all Indian
sportsmen that soon after the commencement of the season,
snipe are often found in such numbers that two " guns "
at work in a day of eight to ten hours have at times
accounted for as many as a hundred and twenty couples
between them !

Encouraged with my success, I went out every after-
noon, seldom returning with less than thirty birds, till
one unlucky morning — taking advantage of a holiday —
I determined to spend the whole day out. It was now early
in October. The " rains " were practically over, and the
sun, no longer intercepted by continuous passing clouds,
shone out in all its power, gradually desiccating the sodden

59

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

ground beneath and thus producing a heated atmosphere
almost impossible to imagine.

I started after the usual early Indian breakfast, arriving
on the ground while the sun was still on the horizon, and
for the first hour or two did little execution, for the birds,
now comparatively old arrivals, were, as is usual in the
morning, somewhat wild and tricky in their flight. How-
ever as the day advanced I made up the deficiency.

I had been shooting continuously up to mid-day with
the sun beating on my head, which — although protected
by a large thick " Solah Topee " — felt like a ball of fire,
while from the knees downwards I was immersed in a warm
bath of liquid mud, a condition well calculated to produce
one, if not all of the various forms of fever known to the
medical profession. However, with the birds so plentiful
and now rising so lazily, I was too intent on making a
good " bag " to think of any such calamities, and had
just completed thirty couple when I was suddenly seized
with faintness, and a feeling as if the ground was sinking
under me. I remember calling to my orderly, who was
behind me, to come quickly and take my gun, but he was
evidently too late, for the next moment I heard faintly,
as if in the distance, the sound of an explosion, followed
by strange, buzzing noises in the head, and then apparently
became unconscious.

Of what had happened after this I have no personal
knowledge, but when my senses eventually returned,
I found myself in bed in my room with O'Malley standing
on one side of me and a stranger on the other.

" How are you feeling now ? " inquired the latter,
taking my wrist between his thumb and ringer.

" All right," I replied, and wondering why there should
be any doubt about it, attempted to sit up, but as I raised
my head a sudden feeling of giddiness overtook me and I
fell back on the pillow.

As I lay there, conscious of what was passing round
me, yet feeling weak and curiously light-headed, I wondered
to myself why I was still in bed for the sun was shining
brightly, hence I knew it must be late. Presently I heard
O'Malley's voice, speaking in a loud whisper, say : " Well,
doctor, what do you think of him now ? He is much
60

SUN-STROKE

better, is he not ? " and then the reply : " Yes, he is
certainly better and, now we have got the fever down,
practically out of danger. Give him the draught again,
and I will come in and see him later."

As he ceased speaking I heard some one go out, and
soon after O'Malley came up to me with a wine-glass in
his hand, and asked " if I was awake."

" Yes," I replied, " but tell me what has happened ?
and who was that you were talking to just now ? "

" That was the new civil surgeon — but you mustn't
talk now. Here, take this stuff, it will send you off to
sleep, and when you wake I will tell you all about it."

I tried questioning him again, but it was no use, he
had had his instructions and intended carrying them out,
so observing laughingly that " I must obey the orders of
my superior officer," he administered the nauseous mixture.
The conversation I had overheard puzzled me con-
siderably, for up to this time the fact that I had been
seriously ill, much less dangerously so, had not occurred
to me, nor, except for a headache and extreme weakness,
did I feel particularly ill at present !

I tried hard to recall any incident which would account
for a condition such as alluded to by the doctor, but in
vain; all I could remember was having been out snipe
shooting, but beyond this my mind was a perfect blank.

My efforts to regain my lost memory would probably
have brought on a return of the fever, if not something
more serious, but the doctor, evidently foreseeing such
possibilities, had provided for them, and before I had time
to do myself much mischief his draught took effect.

Finding the room quite dark when I awoke I concluded
I had slept all through the day, but a little later my
bearer, coming in to open the Venetian doors, informed
me it was morning and that the " Doctor Sahib had come ! "

" Nonsense," I exclaimed, " I cannot have been asleep
since yesterday afternoon ! "

" Yes, by Jove, you have though ! " replied O'Malley,
who, accompanied by the doctor, came in at this
moment.

" Well, I needn't ask you how you are to-day," observed
the latter, as he felt my pulse.

61

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

" No, I am really all right now, and must get back to
work. I "

" Work ! " he interrupted. " You are not going to
do any of that for many a day to come, and what's more,
you have got to stay in bed for another week at least ! "
He then told me I had had sun-stroke, followed by a sharp
attack of fever, which, with one or two short intervals,
had lasted a week, and although now convalescent, I must
be very careful for some time !

This, then, was the explanation of the mystery which had
so puzzled me. Now that my memory had returned, I
could remember distinctly all that had occurred up to
the moment I had called to the orderly. What happened
after this I now learnt from O'Malley, whom my orderly
had informed. It appeared that the latter on my calling
out had run forward, but too late to seize the gun, which
fell out of my hands, and one trigger catching in a twig
had gone off, the charge cutting through the brim of
my " Solah Topee." I had then fallen backwards into
his arms.

Seeing that, although unconscious, I was apparently
uninjured, he had laid me under a tree, and going off to the
village — which was fortunately quite close, he procured a
Palki and bearers and had me carried to the house, when,
leaving my bearer to look after me, he mounted one of my
ponies and galloped off to fetch the doctor and O'Malley.
He had luckily found them both playing billiards at the
Club, and they had driven out at once, to find me still
unconscious with the native police doctor, whom the
bearer had called in, applying cold water to my head,
a simple remedy but which had probably saved my
life!

Such was the history of my misfortune, to which I
must add that O'Malley had never left me for a moment,
but, taking up his quarters in the spare room, had nursed me
day and night, assisted by the native doctor and my
bearer ! However, after my long sleep — the first really rest-
ful one I had enjoyed since my attack — I gradually improved,
but it was two weeks before I left my bed, and a month
before the doctor would allow me to go out, and then
only on condition I should start as soon as possible for
62

A SMALL " DURBAR "

Calcutta, with a view to a sea-voyage to Colombo and
back — giving me a medical certificate recommending a
month's leave.

I accordingly forwarded this document with an appli-
cation for the leave, and a week later was informed that it
had been granted, with the further intimation, that on
its expiration I was to join the district of Purneah on
promotion as Acting Superintendent. I was not sorry
to be vacating my present post, not so much for the
duties, which though heavy were interesting and absorbing,
but I was weary of living in the confinement of a city, and
longed for the more extended, open-air life I looked
forward to as Superintendent of a district.

My preparations for departure did not occupy me long,
but before starting I had an ordeal to undergo which I
would willingly have dispensed with — to wit, a reception
of the principal native officers assembled to say adieu.
First came the old inspector, who in his choicest Babu-
English made quite a little speech, wishing me all happiness
and prosperity, and with whom, as a special mark of
favour, I shook hands on parting. Then the sub-
inspectors, in order of seniority, walked up in solemn
silence and, standing at attention for a moment before my
chair, saluted and passed on ; the last, who had been
recently promoted, bringing his sword with him that I
might touch it — an old wC Sepoy " army custom adopted
by the police.

The whole affair was quite an impressive ceremony in
its way — a small " Durbar " in fact — but I was glad when
it was all over, for to an Englishman a function of this kind
is somewhat trying, and I felt I looked ridiculous and more
inclined to laugh than maintain the solemn appearance
befitting the occasion.

Later in the day, while seated alone on the verandah,
Kali Dass appeared, also to say farewell but only for a
time, for he had decided, as he quaintly expressed it,
" to follow his master's shoes wherever they might take
him."

This dog-like devotion in persons of his class was not
uncommon in those days, but I was glad to find it in one
who had proved so exceptionally useful, so telling him

63

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

he might come he made a low salaam, and went away
quite happy.

I drove down to the railway station early the next
morning, where I met O'Malley, the doctor, and some
others who had come down to see me off, and two
days later found myself one morning on board a P. & O.
steaming down the Hugh en route for Colombo.

64

CHAPTER IX

There were not many passengers, as was to be expected
at that season, but amongst the few on board was a
young indigo planter with whom I soon became acquainted.
Curiously enough he came from the district to which I had
been appointed, and the description he gave of the place
filled me with delight.

According to his account, it was a very paradise for
the sportsman, teeming with small game of every kind,
from quail to the lordly peacock ; panthers, too, seemed
plentiful, while in the larger jungles tigers even were
occasionally heard of, though difficult to obtain.

Of matters connected with my particular duties he
could give me little information, except that, so far as
he could judge from personal experience, the subordinate
police " were the most dishonest set of ruffians he had ever
had anything to do with." This was not encouraging, but as
I knew that unofficial opinions on this subject are apt to
be one-sided, I took the information with the usual pinch
of salt, but resolved to bear the fact in mind for my future
guidance. His descriptions of social life at my new station
interested me greatly, for it appeared that the district was
possessed of a local aristocracy, of a lineage almost as
ancient as the district itself, many of whom were engaged
in indigo cultivation. My new friend not being himself
a member of one of these old families, and moreover in a
sense an interloper, had seemingly found his position a
somewhat difficult one at first, but being apparently of a
jovial, rollicking disposition, had evidently outlived it
and was now, as he expressed it, an " honorary member "
of the community ! However, I shall have occasion to
return to this subject later on. Meanwhile, the days went

F 65

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

by quite quickly, the mornings and afternoons being
devoted to" Bull," " Shovelboard," and such-like innocent
amusements, which not only passed the time, but furnished
the appetite necessary for the many meals which on board
ship seem to succeed each other with such extraordinary
rapidity. The sea-air, too, soon restored my health and
strength, and by the time we reached Colombo I felt as
fit as ever, and quite ready to return.

Holmes — my planter friend — accompanied me ashore,
where we lunched at the Hotel and spent the afternoon
strolling round the town. We soon exhausted all there
was to see, and as the steamer was timed to leave at
four my friend returned on board, having promised to put
up with me when he came back after his four months'
leave at home.

Left to my own resources I found the time hang heavy
on my hands, for I knew no one in the place, and on enquiry
learnt that I was the sole occupant of the Hotel, which,
except on the days a steamer came in, was generally
empty.

For two whole days I endured this solitude, then in
desperation called on the secretary of the club, and was
immediately made a temporary member of that institution,
where I passed many a pleasant hour while awaiting a
steamer for Calcutta. But when on arrival, so crowded
was she with passengers for India, that I had much diffi-
culty in finding accommodation, and was finally packed
into a four-berth cabin with three others, much to their
disgust and my own discomfort, for on the voyage out I
had had a cabin to myself and another for my luggage,
from this port. However, the nights were now compara-
tively cool, and my three companions being all, fortunately,
men of less than ordinary dimensions, we managed to fit
in and eventually became the best of friends, despite the
unpromising introduction.

The voyage, however, was an unpleasant one on the
whole, for with such a crowd of passengers, things were
generally uncomfortable — the morning tub in particular
being always more or less problematical, and exercise of any
kind only possible after midnight, when the decks were
clear.
66

COLOMBO TO CALCUTTA

On our arrival at Calcutta, I called at the Inspector-
General's office, and obtaining permission to cancel the
remainder of my leave started the next day to join my
new appointment, for it was now the touring season and
I was anxious to exploit as much of the district as I could
before the hot weather set in. The journey was a long
one, but most of it fortunately by rail up to a certain
station on the line, where I arrived early the next day,
and put up at the " Dak Bungalow," intending to go on
that night by " Palki " or any other conveyance I could
procure. However, while seated at breakfast, to my sur-
prise a visitor was announced, who, being shown into the
room, introduced himself as a Mr. Calvert, an indigo
planter in charge of a factory near at hand.

" You are Mr. , are you not ? " he continued, as

we shook hands. " Holmes told me to look out for you,
so as soon as you have packed we will go on to my
bungalow, for you will put up with me, of course ? "

" Thanks very much, but I thought of going on again
this evening," I replied, " that is if I can find anything
to go in."

But he was not to be put off. " No, no, you must stay
the night, and I will send you off comfortably to-morrow.
It's only thirty miles and I can ' dak ' * you all the
way."

Still I hesitated, observing that " I could not think of
putting him to such trouble and inconvenience." He
looked at me a moment as if wondering what I meant,
then, my words apparently recalling to his mind the long
forgotten phrase, a quaint amused expression came over
his sunburnt features.

" Ah," he said, " I see you have not been in ' planting
districts.' Never mind, you will soon get to know us
better. Meanwhile, don't worry about ' trouble and
inconvenience,' but come along to the Bungalow, for I
must see about the horses being sent out."

On our way there he told me that Holmes had written to
him from Madras saying when to expect me, and he seemed
quite hurt that I had gone to the Dak Bungalow instead of

* A word untranslatable into English, but meaning here to provide
horses for the journey.

67

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

to him at once ! I had often heard of the hospitality of
indigo planters as a class, but had never imagined it
could be anything like this. My present host was certainly
no exception to the rule, and I learnt later that the last
Dak Bungalow " Khansamah " * had resigned as he found
the business did not pay !

On our arrival at what my friend had been pleased to
call " the Bungalow," I found it was an enormous brick
building containing many rooms, one of the old indigo
palaces in fact, built in the days when indigo planters
were " Zemindars," that is, landed proprietors, as well as
planters, and lived in princely style.

This " factory " had once been the headquarters of
one of the principal " concerns," but was now only an
" outwork " and my friend the sole occupant of the huge
mansion, though he led no hermit's life, his solitude being
shared by frequent week-end guests or passing travellers
like myself, rescued from the clutches of his more mer-
cenary rival the "Dak Bungalow Khansamah."

After a brandy and soda and cigar in the verandah, I
was shown into my room, an enormous lofty chamber
furnished with massive old-fashioned furniture, while
suspended from the ceiling was a large mosquito house,
enclosing within its ample folds the bed, a chair or two and a
table. It was a curious-looking structure consisting of an
oblong, wooden frame, hanging by iron rods about twelve
feet off the ground. Over this was thrown a large mosquito
net of which the four sides descended to the floor, thus
making an enclosure, which the most persistent of mosqui-
toes would find difficult to enter. There was a bar half-
way across the frame into which were screwed three strong
iron hooks, from which — when necessary — a punkah could
be suspended inside the " house," completing as snug and
comfortable a sleeping- place as Anglo-Indian ingenuity has
as yet devised.

Going into the dining-room later, I might have
supposed I was in a Natural History Museum, so numerous
were the specimens of wild animals with which the room
was crowded. The walls were adorned with the heads of

* Caterer.
68

SOME INTERESTING RELICS

various beasts and reptiles, amongst the latter being a
gigantic snub-nosed " Mugger," the dreaded man-eating
variety of the Indian Crocodile — while the floor was strewn
with skins, most of them of the larger carnivora of the
jungles. Many of these specimens were obviously of ancient
date, as might be judged from their appearance, and the
sole records possibly of many a desperate encounter
experienced by some by-gone sporting manager, whose
exploits had long since been forgotten — probably, too, his
name ! But to the keen sportsman what a fascination
they still possessed — these now prosaic and harmless
remnants of the formidable beasts which had once inspired
both horror and respect ! One marvelled, too, at the skill
and courage of these erstwhile sportsmen who, armed
with muzzle-loading and otherwise inefficient weapons,
had not only ventured to attack but had overcome such
foes.

Deeply engrossed in the examination of these interesting
trophies, picturing to myself how each had been secured,
I had not noticed the entrance of my host whose voice
now aroused me from my reverie.

" Hullo, I see you are a sportsman too, as well as a
policeman. That's capital. I know they generally go
together, but the last man wasn't, and it went rather
against him."

" No, I can't say I am a sportsman yet," I answered,
modestly disclaiming the reputation, " but I have stuck a
pig or two and once shot a leopard, so hope soon to become
one."

" That's good enough for a beginner any way, and you
will have plenty of opportunity for learning more of the
trade here, for there is plenty of game. A good many of
these for instance that need shooting," he added, pointing
to a leopard skin on the floor.

" Yes, Holmes told me there was good shooting, but I
scarcely expected to find a beast like this. Where did you
get him ? " I asked, looking up at the Mugger's head on the
wall.

" Oh, he is one of the old ' Mummies,' as I call them,
shot by an ancient member of the family, fifty years ago ;
but look at the implement he shot him with ! " and taking

69

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

a gun out of a lot standing in a rack he handed it to me to
examine.

It was certainly an extraordinary looking weapon,
evidently of very ancient make and of enormous calibre,
with a short stumpy barrel and flint locks all fitted to
a stock obviously home-made, the whole weighing probably
thirtv pounds.

" Well, what do you think of it ? " he asked. " A
nice handy weapon, isn't it, to carry on a hot day ? And
look at these ! " — pointing to a lot of native jewellery
on a bracket below the Mugger's head.

There were about ten of them in all, mostly heavy
brass or pewter arm or ankle ornaments such as are usually
worn by native women of the lower classes.

" And have these a history too ? " I asked, wondering
why they were placed amongst the trophies.

" Yes," he replied, " and one you will hardly credit,
but it is nevertheless a fact. All these ornaments you see
here were found inside that snub-nosed brute — all t hat was
left of five poor women it had eaten within a period of
six months." He then went on to tell me how the beast
was said to have been a terror to the neighbourhood,
appearing suddenly at a bathing-place and carrying off
its victim, to seize another a few days later at some other
place on the river many miles away.

" But here is another Man-Eater with a curious history
too," he continued, drawing my attention to a large tiger
skin of an extraordinarily light colour, mounted with the
head. " That beast there devoured some twenty people,
and although I went after it with elephants every time it
killed I had never come across it. The last 6 kill ' was
about five years ago, and I had gone out with one elephant
to look for it, intending to watch over it on a tree on the
chance of the beggar coming back. We were going slowly
through the jungle, examining every likely spot, when the
' Mahout ' suddenly stopped the elephant, and pointing to
the ground in front, whispered : 8 Sahib, there is the tiger,
lying down asleep.'

" I looked to where he pointed and there, sure enough,
was a tiger stretch d out at full length, about fifteen yards
in front of us, and, to all appearances, sleeping soundly.
70

A POISONED "MAN-EATER"

" Ordering the c Mahout ' to move the elephant quietly
to one side to obtain a better view of the tiger's head,
I raised my rifle slowly, and aiming at a spot an inch below
the ear, I fired. The beast made no sound or movement,
which was not surprising, for an express bullet behind the ear
was likely to have caused instantaneous death. However,
to make quite sure, I fired the second barrel into its head.
Then, reloading the rifle, got off and walked up to where
the animal lay. You may imagine my delight as I gazed
upon my prize, so unexpectedly obtained, for that it was
the ' Man-Eater • I had no doubt, its massive build and
unusually light-coloured skin answering so exactly to the
description given me by many natives who had seen it.

" And now comes the strange part of the story. Having
often heard that tigers rarely become ' Man-Eaters ' until
quite old and toothless, I thought I would test this theory
by examining this one's teeth, but as I grasped the jaws
to open them, they seemed quite cold and set ! While
trying to force them open, I noticed the bullet hole in the
head, but no trace of any blood ! I then looked at the
other and finding that also bloodless a horrible suspicion
crossed my mind, soon to be confirmed, for on passing
my hands over the carcase, I found it stiff and icy cold !
With the exception of my two bullet holes, there was
not a mark upon the animal, which had evidently been
poisoned, and I now realized the humiliating fact that
instead of having, as I thought, vanquished a live 4 Man-
Eater,' I had been fool enough to shoot one already dead
some hours !

" I need not describe my feelings, for you as a sports-
man will understand them, but my first care, when I had
to some extent recovered from the shock, was to impress
upon the ' Mahout ' the necessity of keeping silence, as
I knew if the story got abroad I should never hear the
end of it ! Of course — as I might have known — he
promptly told the story to his friends, and for many a
day after, whenever I went in to the station, my friends
would ask me, with a grin, whether I had shot any more
dead c Man-Eaters,' or if I could tell them ' where they
could be found ! ' and even to this day, ' How Calvert shot
the Man-Eater ' is one of the stock stories at the Club ! "

71

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

" But did you find out who poisoned it ? " I asked,
as my friend concluded his strange tale.

44 Yes, I did, but not till long afterwards, when I dis-
covered that a gang of wandering 4 Chamars,' * often
cattle poisoners, who were encamped near, when collecting
fire- wood in the jungle had come upon the l kill,' and
knowing the tiger would return, had placed some arsenic
into the corpse, intending to claim the Government reward
for the head and skin !

" But I took care they did not get these," he added,
smiling grimly, " for there they are as you can see, and that
reminds me that I found the ' old toothless ' theory was
all humbug, for the beast was in his prime, with as firm
a set of teeth as any tiger could desire. Just look at them,"
and as he lifted up the head, I could see they were all
perfect and sharp as the point of a French nail.

44 What do you think, then, it is that makes tigers take
to man-eating ? " I asked, anxious for information on a
subject I, too, had often heard discussed.

44 Why, to my mind the reason is quite simple," he
replied ; 44 for any human being, if unarmed, is obviously
easier to kill than a buffalo or a bullock with sharp horns !
Hence a tiger, having once killed a man or woman, naturally
continues to prey on them rather than attack animals
protected with such formidable weapons !

44 But here comes the 4 Tiffin,' so now that we have done
with the Man-Eater, let me show you what we poor planters
feed on in these wilds where the accommodating chicken
is sometimes a beef steak, and our mutton chops are
borrowed from the goat."

We sat down to a table which would have seated
twenty people, and from the number of covers that were
laid it was evident my host seldom lunched alone, in fact
we had hardly finished the first course, when there was a
sound of horses' hoofs outside, and, presently, two hot
and dust-begrimed individuals came tramping into the
room.

My friend greeted them with delight. 44 Hullo, Don !
how are you, Bunder ? " he shouted, 44 Come along
and sit down, but first let me introduce you ! Our new

* A low caste of Hindu.
72

INDIGO PLANTERS' HOSPITALITY

policeman, Mr. ." Then addressing me, " Here are two

more members of my fraternity, Messrs. Gunn and Thomp-
son, more commonly known amongst us as the ' Bunder '
and 4 Don Quixote.' "

The origin of these nick-names was not difficult to
trace, " Bunder " being the Hindustani equivalent for
" Monkey," while he who bore the sobriquet of the " Don "
also so closely resembled the pictures of Cervantes' famous
hero, that one might almost have imagined he was the
original !

This custom of giving nick-names was, I learnt later,
one of the traditions of the district, and being usually
an indication of the popularity of the recipient, no offence
was taken should such names emphasize any personal
peculiarities in their manners, appearance, or exploits.
As the meal proceeded, I discovered that our host, too, was
included in the category, his friends invariably addressing
him as " Dead 'un," a name bestowed on him, as he told
me afterwards, in allusion to the incident of the dead
Man-Eater.

A gruesome name to give a friend, but one under the
circumstances only to be expected, for there was no
denying that my friend had given himself away.

73

CHAPTER X

During the progress of that long and memorable "tiffin,'
I learnt more of the history of the district than I could
have acquired in six months under ordinary conditions,
for my companions were all old residents of the place, and
full of information. Of sport and perilous adventures
each had had his share, for they were all passed middle
age, and could recall the days when the district was still
infested with wild beasts. Many were the thrilling stories
they related of their adventures with these beasts, and
legends too of earlier days, when — as the first settlers
in the land — their ancestors had battled with men as well
as beasts, eventually overcoming both.

All three of my companions were members of some of
the old families described to me by Holmes, but all
public school men ; and a nicer and more sporting trio
it would have been difficult to find. Nevertheless, I could
quite understand that with men of this type — virtually
in possession of the district — any outsider coming into it
with a view to competition, would naturally be regarded
as an interloper and be likely to have a bad time of it at
first ! With me as only an official of the district, a
mere passenger, so to speak, the case was necessarily
quite different, and there being no question of rivalry or
competition I was received with open arms.

My host, who was evidently a most popular person
and a recognized authority on all matters connected with
the chase, gave me much valuable information as to the
sport to be obtained, showing me on his map some still
unbeaten tracts where tigers and other beasts might
occasionally be found.

But to come back to where I started : I have said
the " tiffin " was " a memorable one," and such it must
have been, for to this day I can recall it. It was the first
74

AN ANGLO-INDIAN MEAL

real Anglo-Indian meal I had seen, and never shall I forget
the number and extraordinary variety of the dishes which
composed it. To describe them all would be impossible,
for many I had never seen before — some of them adorned
with models of prehistoric looking animals and birds,
apparently made out of potatoes, and all so exquisitely
flavoured, yet no two of them alike in taste or in
appearance. There was beef-steak too, and mutton
chops, both to all appearances derived from natural
sources, but so cleverly had their flavour been disguised
that I failed to detect in either any trace of fowl or goat.
A curry served with " chutnies " in half a dozen little
saucers, completed this extraordinary meal, and after
sitting smoking for some time, we sauntered round the
factory till our visitors departed. They had each some
thirty miles to ride, but seemed to think nothing of the
distance, and, having relays of horses on the road, would,
they informed me, arrive in time for dinner.

After seeing them off we went down to the stables,
and on the way met the horses being taken to their
stages for my journey the next morning, three of them,
each with its harness and carrying its own fodder for the
night.

" There's one that will give you some trouble, I am
afraid," observed Calvert as they passed, pointing to a
big chestnut, a fine upstanding beast but evidently bad
tempered. " My friends call him the ' Planter,' a very
good name for him, too, as you will find. However, you
leave him to the ' syce,' he knows his ways, and all
you have to do is to hold on to the reins and sit tight, or
as tight as you can."

These instructions seemed to me uncomfortably sug-
gestive, especially as I had often heard of planter's horses
and " their ways," but, unwilling to betray any anxiety
on the subject, I kept my feelings to myself.

" All right ! I don't mind so long as he can go," I
answered, as if I had been accustomed to driving wild
horses all my life, fully convinced in my own mind the
while that I was in for a bad time if not a broken neck !

" Oh, he will go all right, in fact you can't stop him
once he has started ! " he replied, evidently quite proud

75

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

of what to me was another disquieting accomplishment
in the animal. Then, looking after them as they were
led off down the road, he added, " That grey, too, kicks
a bit when starting, but keep her head well up for the first
few hundred yards and you will be all right."

The third animal was apparently free from any tricks,
for it had passed unnoticed, and as nothing had been said
of the one I was to start with, I hoped that it, too, was
comparatively tame ! However, I came to the conclusion
that what with the known vices of the chestnut and the
grey, to say nothing of some latent evil in the other two,
possibly to be disclosed on the way, my journey was
likely to be an exciting one with every probability of
its termination in a ditch !

Having seen the horses off, we went back to the house,
where we found the "Gomashta," or native factory assis-
tant, waiting with some papers for my host, and while
he was in the office attending to them I sat on the ver-
andah smoking, and occasionally wondering to myself
how many sound limbs there would be left to me by this
time the next day !

A loud clanging of the factory gong, summoning us
to dinner, put an end to these melancholy reflections, and
we were soon seated at this meal which was quite as
sumptuous as the last, and most excellently served. In
the table, too, with its snow-white damask cloth, its
floral decorations and glittering plate and glass, there
was little to suggest the wildness of the jungles, and but
for the sable, white-robed attendants and the occasional
howling of the jackals, it would have required no very
great effort of the imagination to have fancied myself
at home !

However, such thoughts were soon dispelled, for pre-
sently during an interval in the howling jackal concert,
another and more awe-inspiring sound broke suddenly
upon our ears, apparently produced by some beast in
the verandah ! It was a strangely weird sound, as if some
dying animal was gasping out its life in short, quick
respirations, but loud and terrifying to any one who,
like myself, had never heard it before — to my companion,
however, it was evidently familiar.
76

A LEOPARD

" The leopard again, by Jove ! " he cried, and springing
to his feet, seized a gun out of the rack and loading it
handed me another with some cartridges. " Come on,
we may get a shot at it," he added, as I followed him out
to the verandah.

It was a moonlight night, but the broad, sloping roof
shaded the verandah, and as we reached the door we
found ourselves in darkness. We stood a moment listening,
and presently could hear the sound of something moving
near us.

Suddenly the same blood-curdling cry was repeated,
the more terrifying now from its proximity, and the next
instant, a long shadowy form, seeming to rise from under
our feet, glided out into the moonlight. Quicker almost
than thought, Calvert raised his rifle and long before
I realized the situation, he had fired. Simultaneously
with the report, the beast sprang high into the air and
with a fierce, half-stifled roar, fell backwards on to the
grass, practically dead. The bullet had struck the animal
in the head, penetrating the brain — a fine example
of accurate, quick shooting, compared with which my
performance had been, to say the least of it, indifferent.
For I, too, had fired as the beast fell back and had also
hit it, but in a less important place ; to confess the
truth, I had shot off twelve inches of its tail ! thus
reducing, as my friend ruefully remarked, a nearly record
leopard to one of six feet eight — quite an ordinary size !

44 Never mind, we can sew it on again," and, picking
up the missing portion, he added, laughing, 44 but we
must keep this story to ourselves, or, like that of my
wretched tiger, it would soon become an 4 endless tale '
in the other sense of the word ! "

Fortunately none of the servants had witnessed my
exploit, and when they came up later, seeing one shot only
in the body, naturally concluded it had caused the double
injury. Nevertheless for many a month after, whenever
any one commenced a leopard story, I used to grow quite
cold with apprehension lest it should be mine. Calvert
now told me that this beast had often come prowling
round the bungalow and had once carried off one of his
cattle, but as its visits were usually during the dark

77

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

phases of the moon, he had not hitherto been able to get
a shot at it.

" But we must ha,ng him up somewhere for the night,
or the jackals will be at him," he continued ; so with the
assistance of the servants who were now all gathered
round us, we hoisted the carcase on to the lower branches
of a tree ; then, returning to the dining-room, went on
with our dinner !

This unlooked-for interlude in the meal had not im-
proved the latter portion of the menu, but with appetites
increased by the excitement of our contest we were not
inclined to be fastidious and ate of all the dishes, regardless
of the fact that most were overcooked. Personally I was
too delighted at the cause to complain of the effect, for the
incident had revealed a possible realization of my dream
of the wild jungle life I had so often heard of, and it
seemed now that I was likely to experience it in reality.
The district, if not one of the wildest in the Province,
was at any rate more primitive than any I had been in
yet, and I could guess that when camping near the jungles,
off the beaten track, life would probably be sufficiently
exciting and adventurous.

As I was to start early the next morning, I retired to
bed shortly after dinner and, thanks to the mosquito
house, slept more soundly than I had done for many a
long night. It was still dark when I was awakened by
the "khitmager" appearing at my bedside with the
morning cup of tea, an Anglo-Indian habit and, possibly
a pernicious one, but as a spur to the lazy sleeper,
infallible in its action. As I swallowed the stimulating
mixture, while yet but half awake, the feeling of drowsiness
rapidly passed off, and jumping out of bed I dressed myself
by lamplight and went out to the verandah, where I was
joined shortly by my host. Early as it was I found he
had already had his " little breakfast," and while mine
was being prepared we walked down to the stables
where the leopard had been taken to be skinned.

It looked a much finer beast by daylight, and according
to my friend belonged to the larger variety of leopards
commonly known as " panthers," and to the natives as
the " Gowbagh," or cattle killer, in contradistinction
78

AN EXCITING PROSPECT

to the " Neckrabagh " or ordinary leopard. Nevertheless,
in assuming the panther to be a variety of the species, my
friend was probably incorrect, for it has since, I believe,
been definitely ascertained that the so-called panther and
leopard are one and the same animal, the difference in
size being, as with the tiger, merely incidental. However,
be this as it may, the animal before us was an un-
commonly fine specimen of its kind whatever it might
be, and in again measuring and remeasuring the carcase
discussing its various points and attempting to join the
severed tail, we spent so much time that on returning
to the bungalow, I found I must start at once if I wished
to avoid the heat of the day. Accordingly, after making
a hurried meal, I bade my hospitable friend adieu, and
with many promises to look him up again, and forgetting
in my hurry to ask any questions about the horse,
mounted the dog-cart and started on my journey.

After the first mile or two, however, I discovered to my
relief, that this beast at any rate, except for an unpleasant
habit of jamming the reins under its tail, was on the
whole fairly well-conducted, and the first stage of the
journey was reached without adventure.

Here I found the chestnut, and my heart sank into my
boots as I watched him being " put in," for he was no
sooner brought up to the shafts than, sniffing at them
a moment, reared up straight on end, then turning
quickly round, kicked savagely at the trap. However,
after much manoeuvring and considerable bad language
from the " syce," he was finally backed in between the
shafts, and being eventually harnessed, I was requested
to jump quickly on to the cart. But no sooner did
the brute feel my weight upon the step, than crouching
for an instant, he sprang forward with a bound, sending
me sprawling into the dust. Picking myself up, I tried
again and this time succeeded in effecting a lodgment
on the seat, where I sat with the reins in my hand,
expecting every moment to be violently ejected, yet
loath to abandon the position of my own free will lest
I might not be able to regain it. However, the horse
had evidently no intention of resisting any movement,
aggressive or otherwise, just then, having apparently

79

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

come to the conclusion that an attitude of passive
resistance was preferable to the violence he had recently
indulged in. So, remembering my host's instructions,
I decided to " sit tight " or as near as I could arrive
at that condition perched on a slippery sloping box-seat
some eighteen inches high, until the "syce," with his
supposed superior knowledge of the animal, had effected
some change in the situation. But his powers had evidently
been overrated, for after trying many methods known to
his profession he appeared to have arrived at the end of
his resources, when an idea seemed to strike him. Whether
it came as an inspiration or of previous knowledge I am
not prepared to say, but suddenly stooping down he picked
up a handful of mud, and opening the horse's mouth rubbed
it on to the palate !

The application acted like magic, for the horse, which
had been standing for close on half an hour with his fore-
feet planted firmly in the ground, now suddenly plunged
forward and started off as if shot out of a cannon.

The "syce" managed somehow to climb on behind and
away we went at racing pace, for the best part of a mile,
and during these few minutes my control over the animal
was confined to the holding of the reins, for I could make
no use of them.

The beast had seized the bit between his teeth and for
the time being was under his own control, free to take me
where and how he pleased, since I could neither check nor
guide him. Fortunately he kept to the middle of the
road, indeed behaved with considerable discretion, care-
fully avoiding a bullock-cart or two and swerving past a
group of terrified factory coolies on their way to work.
Unfortunately this discretion did not extend to ruts
and inequalities in the road, or to such trifles as " metal "
heaps piled along the sides, and as we went bumping over
such obstructions, I occupied much the same position as
the pea does on a drum, and kept wondering to myself
how long I should remain.

True, I passed most of this time up in the air de-
scending periodically, sometimes on to the cushion, but
as often on to the rails, at least so I concluded from the
different sensations I experienced on alighting, for I was
80

B <

<

REFLECTIONS

too busy to look. Indeed it was the reins alone which
kept me within the limits of the trap, for I clung to them
with the energy of despair and fortunately so, for presently,
as a deeper rut than usual shot me higher up, the extra
strain upon the reins released the bit which fell back into
its place.

I was now master of the situation and lost no time in
applying my new-found power; pulling at the reins with
all my strength, I finally reduced our pace from a gallop
to the customary trot and so continued our journey under
more orderly conditions as befitted the future police officer
of the district.

Now that I had leisure to review the situation, I thought
to myself what excellent material my involuntary pro-
ceedings would have supplied to some local correspondent
of one of the more rabid Bengali papers, and could well
imagine the gusto with which he would have reported them
in the Bengali English of those days. Something possibly
to this effect — " We beg to call Government attention
to the monstrous conduct of high police official of
Purneah District : in driving ferociously and to extreme
danger on public highway, no doubt to show his vast
importance, knocking down and otherwise causing serious
danger to more plebeian but also British subject who
for purposes of travel must use the same high-road," and
so on.

Such are the amenities of official life in Bengal, and
even in those days the actions of Government and its
officials, were favourite topics with the native Press and,
as at present, invariably discussed in a vituperative
spirit and generally with a studied disregard as to the
truth of the actual facts reported. Happily Government
has, at length, recognized these truths and realized the
fact that the liberty of the Press — so far as native
papers are concerned — is a privilege which can no longer
be allowed. Had it come to this decision forty years
ago the general conditions in Bengal might have been
less unrestful than they are !

• • t • i .

But to return to my journey. The horse, now brought
under control, displayed no inclination to resume its perilous

G 81

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

career, and about half an hour later brought us safely to
the end of the stage. Then we parted, never, I firmly
resolved, to meet again under similar conditions.

His immediate successor was the animal I have already
noticed as being, presumably, free from any marked
peculiarities, but after my late experience of my friend's
" stable " I felt somewhat doubtful as to whether this
presumption was altogether justifiable. Hence when
mounting the dog-cart, I was quite prepared to " quit "
at short notice and without the formality of descending
by the step, should matters render it advisable to leave
in a less conventional manner. However, to my surprise
the beast actually stood still till I was seated and then
started off in quite the ordinary way !

I had now only the grey to reckon with, and, anxious
to learn something more of its accomplishments, I
questioned the old "syce," who, perched monkey-like behind
me, seemed lost in admiration of the performance of his
charge, and thinking probably of the " Backsheesh " such
" pace and manners " would produce. The information he
imparted was not very consoling.

" Ah," said he, " the Sahib will find the ' Sheitan ' very
different from my mare — using the possessive pronoun, as
is common with native servants, when speaking of their
masters' property.

" The Sheitan ! Why what horse do you mean ?
Your Sahib said the grey mare's name was Ballet Girl ! "
I said, interrupting him, not quite understanding what
animal he referred to.

" Yes, yes, I know—' Bullygul ' that is her l Belati ' *
name, but we ' syce-logue ' f call her the ' Sheitan ' — the
4 Subza-Sheitan,' that is the name she is known by in the
stables."

Now " Sheitan " being, as everybody knows, the
Eastern equivalent for Satan and 4 Subza ' meaning Grey,
the combination was fairly obvious, nor was the inference
to be derived therefrom very difficult to arrive at ; the
grey mare, like her proverbial ancestor, was undoubtedly
a shrew, and I with equal certainty was in for a bad
time !

* English. t Lit. Syce -people.

82

SAFE ARRIVAL

A few minutes later we came up to her tethered to
the roots of a large tree, under which she had passed the
night and was now grazing quietly. She seemed quite
pleased to see us, neighing with evident delight at the
sight of her companion and during the process of being
harnessed was as gentle as a lamb, even permitting
me to mount without showing any sign of resentment.

But I had no sooner taken the reins into my hands
and, slapping them gently on to her back, evinced my
desire to proceed, than, before I had time to think of
much less to act on my host's instructions, down went
her head and the next instant her heels were playing a
tatoo on the dash-board. She continued this performance
for some minutes, while I sat on, clinging to the reins,
an unwilling but necessarily interested spectator, and
with my eyes fixed on the time-worn kicking-strap,
expecting momentarily to see it part and to feel the
mare's heels against my face. Providentially, though
ancient the leather maintained its proverbial reputation,
resisting every effort of the mare to raise her quarters
sufficiently to reach me with her heels, which was
apparently her intention.

Presently, with a bound which nearly hurled me into
space, she was off, but after another plunge or two soon
steadied down into a trot, and like many of her vicious
disposition proved extraordinarily fast.

My troubles were now over, for soon we entered the
station limits, but the journey was one to be remembered,
and I felt I was fortunate in arriving with my limbs all
still complete.

83

CHAPTER XI

Calvert had consigned me to a friend of his, a planter,
living in the station, by whom I was most cordially received
and luxuriously entertained the best part of a month,
my host, who was also my future landlord, insisting
that this was the shortest period in which the house I had
rented from him could possibly be ready ! I knew this
was merely an excuse to extend his hospitality, at the
same time I felt I should offend him if I left, for he was
quite one of the old style — a relic of an age when a
planter's house was, to all intents and purposes, an hotel,
except that the departing guest was not presented with his
bilk His establishment still retained much of its ancient
splendour despite the fast diminishing rupee which has
since wrought many changes in the land, necessitating a
study of economy till Anglo-Indian hospitality, once a
by-word, is now a mere legend of the past.

The house occupied by my host was, and had been for
many years, the headquarters of the principal Indigo
" Concern/ ' and quite a palace as to size, while he being
the head, and virtually owner of the whole, was a person of
considerable wealth and importance in the district, and
its chief honorary magistrate. His position as head of the
planting community practically necessitated his keeping
open house, and the " Burra Kothi," or great house,
as it was called, was seldom without a guest or two ;
indeed during the time I was with him, we never dined
or breakfasted alone. In addition to this he gave large
dinner parties once or twice a week. Hence I soon
became acquainted with the other officials in the station
as well as with many of the managers and assistants of
the several factories under his control.

The officials, of whom there were five Europeans
84

FELLOW OFFICIALS

besides myself, consisted, in the order of their seniority of
the Judge, the District Magistrate, the Civil Surgeon,
the Joint Magistrate and the Engineer.

The first, an early product of the competitive system,
was a typical, hard-headed Scot, generally absorbed in
judgments and decisions, or — when not otherwise engaged,
employing his leisure moments in waging war against
the magistracy and police, the latter being, apparently,
in his opinion, worse than the malefactors he occasionally
consigned to penal servitude.

In strong contrast to him was Grenville, the District
Magistrate, one of the last of the Hailsbury Civilians
and a splendid specimen of his class, loved and respected
throughout the district by native and European alike,
but a terror to the burglar and " dacoit," and a thoroughly
good sportsman in every sense of the more modern meaning
of the word.

The Doctor — officially Civil Surgeon — was an Irishman,
a rollicking, good-tempered individual who cured more
patients by his manner than through the medium of his
drugs. His prescriptions, when he gave one, which was
seldom, were simple and not always out of the Pharma-
copoeia, for he would prescribe a mutton chop more often
than a mixture, and held that a whisky and soda was
the best of all known tonics "to be taken three times a
day."

However, in spite of these seemingly professional
eccentricities, in serious cases he was most careful and
generally successful, both as a surgeon and physician,
and his patients soon discovered that when really necessary,
the proper remedies would be applied or administered,
as the case might be.

Of the remaining two officials Benson, the Joint, was
a replica of his superior, the District Magistrate, and a
finer example of the " more modern type of ' civilian ' "
than his superior the Judge, who came of a period in the
service when brains alone were sought for and muscle and
physique considered a negligible quantity.

Last, but by no means of the least importance, was
the Engineer — an Irishman of the name of Burke, at
one time the finest " G.R." in the Province till a " cropper "

85

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

in a steeplechase had reduced him to sitting behind a horse
instead of on it. This accident, however, had proved a
blessing in disguise, so far as his duties were concerned,
for, now compelled to drive along the roads he had
formerly ridden, the highways of the district were in a
condition of perfection seldom found in Indian districts.
Since his infliction — being no longer able to indulge in
racing, pig-sticking, or polo, and having no other vent
for his sporting proclivities, he had taken vigorously to
shooting and spent most of his spare moments in prowling
round the jungles on an elephant, for, as he used ruefully
to observe, " he had still a good seat on a howdah or a
pad." He had shot most things to be found near the station,
and taken many a long journey to tiger-kills reported —
so far — without success, for some time his failures only
made him all the keener, till, at length, discouraged by
continued disappointment, he had come to the conclusion
that so far as this district was concerned, tigers were
extinct. How he was destined to alter his opinion, and
to regret that he had come to this conclusion, will all be
related in due course. Meanwhile, having much in
common, we soon became fast friends and, as often as
we could arrange to do so, went out in camp together.

I had been about two months in the district and one
morning was seated in my office, hearing reports from
the different stations, of all that had occurred during the
previous day, or day before, according to distance of
each post.

Amongst the reports of cattle killed by " wild animals "
was one that struck me as peculiar, for in it was stated
that a " pariah-dog," or village cur, had been carried
off by a tiger, with a footnote, in the sub-inspector's own
handwriting, that he had enquired into the matter and
found the information was correct.

Now, as it happened, this particular officer was some-
thing of a sportsman himself and not likely to be mis-
taken in a matter of this kind — still for a tiger to carry
off a dog was an event so unlikely that I was inclined
to believe that the thief in question was probably a leopard.
However, as this was one of the outposts I had not
as yet inspected, I was glad of an excuse for visiting it,
8G

TIGER OR LEOPARD?

and accordingly prepared to start next day, meanwhile
despatching a mounted constable with orders to the sub-
inspector to collect as many elephants as he could.

Burke, with whom I was now " chumming," hap-
pening to look in an hour or two later, I had the report
read out to him and being anxious he should accompany
me, kept my own opinion to myself.

" Here's your chance at last, we are sure to get him
as the jungle is quite a small one," I said as the clerk
finished reading the report.

" What ! do you mean to say you are going fifty
miles after a tiger that is supposed to have carried off a
dog ? Why you must be mad ! " he replied, looking at
me as if he really believed I was. " Who ever heard of
a tiger troubling to catch or eat a dog ? It's a leopard, of
course, and a mighty small one at that," he added, appar-
ently quite annoyed that I should think him capable of
believing anything so absurd.

44 Well, I admit it is rather an extraordinary proceeding
for a tiger to indulge in, but you see what that Khan
Mohamed the sub -inspector says, and as he is a sportsman
he is probably right, so you had better come."

44 No, thank you," he replied, " I have had enough of
mythic tigers and don't care to go fifty miles to seek them.
I tell you there is not a tiger in the district, made of
flesh and bone, as you will admit yourself some day when
you have hunted for as many of 'em as I have."

44 Well, perhaps I shall when I have, but I have got to
hunt them first before I arrive at this conclusion, so had
better begin with this one," I replied, and seeing he was
not to be persuaded, I confessed I was fully of opinion
that the animal was a leopard.

The next morning I started, long before my friend
was awake. It was pitch dark when I left, and likely
to be so for some time, hence I had arranged to do the
first eight miles on an elephant, having sent ponies out
the day before to various stages on the road.

The whole distance, as Burke had said, was close on
fifty miles, but the sun had not been up two hours when
I had cut this down by half, for the elephant was a fast
one and could do her five miles in an hour, bringing me up

87

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

to my first pony just as day was breaking. So far the
journey had been all that was enjoyable, the first part
of it, too, to some extent unique, for during those miles
of darkness, we had traversed some heavy forest where,
on either side of us, could be heard the strange night
noises of the jungles, and once, as the light was making,
a leopard had crossed the track in front of us. But now,
and for the next twenty miles, my route lay along a
broad, white, dusty road as straight as any railway
line with fields on each side of it, reaching as far as the
eye could see. The heat too was increasing with every
mile I rode, and soon the dry dust-laden west wind —
hot as from a furnace — arose at its appointed hour, much
to my additional discomfort, covering the dripping pony
and myself with a coating of grey dust, some of which
found its way into my throat, and the pony's too,
eliciting strange noises from the beast in its endeavours
to eject it. As the sun rose higher in the heavens, so did
the wind increase in violence till it was blowing half a
gale and bringing with it clouds of dust, sufficiently
opaque almost to bar our progress, for at times I could
neither see nor breathe, while I would feel the pony
under me being swept across the road, powerless to resist
the pressure of the wind. How the little animal — for
it was barely thirteen hands — contrived to keep upon
its legs, is beyond my comprehension, and I can only
conclude it was my weight that kept it steady, for later
on, when I had been compelled to dismount, as each gust
came it would stand with its legs spread wide apart
refusing to move until the blast had passed.

For one long hour, which seemed like ten, we battled
with the gale, or rather dust-storm for such in fact it was,
making but little progress, as half-choked and almost
blinded, I dragged rather than led my now trembling pony
onwards. At last the violence of the wind gradually
abated and when the dust had settled sufficiently to see, I
found we had made just half a mile !

The heat was now intense, and the sun's rays growing
more vertical, as the day advanced, seemed to penetrate
to the brain despite my " Topee " made of solah over one
inch thick. However, resting the pony for a while, I
88

METHOD OF COOLING LIQUIDS

re-mounted and the quick motion through the air soon
revived us both.

Fortunately my third pony was but a mile or two ahead
when the dust-storm overtook us, and about half an hour
later, we came up to it picketed under the shade of a
huge mango-tree, where it had slept during the night on
a pile of straw supplied by an adjacent village. Here also
I found my tiffin-basket, sent on the previous night, with
material for breakfast, and more important still, a bottle
of Bass's ale which, swathed in wet straw, hung suspended
from a branch with the hot wind playing on it — the Anglo-
Indian method of making a drink cool where ice is not avail-
able. For the last two hours or more my thoughts had been
intent upon this drink and now, seeing the syce as I
approached, swinging the precious bottle perilously to
and fro, my heart sank as I realized that the momentary bliss
I had anticipated depended on the strength of that slender
piece of string.

Dismounting quickly, I snatched the bottle from its
perilous position and knocking off the neck poured the
icy liquid down my throat, acknowledging to myself the
while the truth of the old saying " that it is an ill wind
that blows nobody any good," for no ice that ever froze
could have produced anything colder than had that
scorching dry west wind blowing on the damp straw.

Refreshed beyond description by the cold sparkling
potion, I now discovered I was hungry, and on an investi-
gation of the basket found sufficient there to satisfy that
appetite as well, in fact so sumptuously had my man
provided for me that when I had finished I felt a strange
disinclination to change the shady shelter I was in for the
scorching sun outside. Meanwhile, lighting a pipe, I lay
down with my saddle for a pillow, smoking in lazy comfort
while I watched the pony being cooled down — a process
that had been going on for some time, but so far without
any visible results. However, under the combined in-
fluences of Bass's beer, a heavy breakfast and tobacco,
to say nothing of the equally sleep-inducing atmosphere,
the condition of the pony, as of anything else around me,
soon ceased to have an interest, and after trying once or
twice to keep my pipe alight, I dropped off to sleep.

89

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

I had slept for about two hours when a loud pattering
overhead suddenly aroused me and I awoke to find the
sky one mass of huge black clouds by which the sun,
still struggling for existence, was being rapidly obscured,
while peals of thunder, accompanied with forked light-
ning succeeded one another, with scarce a moment's
interval till they culminated in one resounding crash as
a tree, perilously adjacent to me was struck. Finally the
rain, which had been falling lightly for some time, des-
cended in a torrent and with a force which seemed to bore
into the earth, converting the dust-laden ground about
us into pools of liquid-mud with a rapidity almost incon-
ceivable till the road, as much as we could see of it,
resembled a muddy stream.

It was one of the violent thunder-storms which usually
precede the early rains, or " Chota-Bursat " as the natives
call it, and passed over as suddenly as it had arisen, but
leaving behind it, as evidence of its passage, a temperature
reduced by many a degree, and a freshness in the air most
enjoyable after the late oppressive heat. I was quick to
take advantage of this change and mounting the fresh
pony — the pick of my small stud — accomplished the next
ten miles in an hour and a quarter, the lower temperature
enabling us to make more rapid progress. However, I
had still twelve miles before me, and having no more
ponies of my own had told the sub-inspector to arrange
for this portion of my journey as he might think most
suitable, with the result that I found awaiting me a
small two- wheeled vehicle known in India as an " Ekka."

This extraordinary conveyance merits some descrip-
tion, if only for its remarkable appearance, for a quainter
thing in carriages it would be difficult for any European
to conceive or have the boldness to construct. The
machine, except for its wheels, was built entirely of
bamboo, two lengths being used to form each of the
shafts which in shape resembled a huge shuttle, with the
lower limbs resting on the axle, while the upper were con-
nected by cross-pieces and formed the seat. The super-
structure consisted of four upright pieces of bamboo,
supporting a canopy rounded off and padded on the top,
which was covered with crimson cloth, ending in a green
90

AN EKKA

and yellow fringe, the whole having the appearance of a
tabernacle more suited to enthrone some heathen god
or goddess than a khaki-clad, perspiring Superintendent
of police.

Attached to this extraordinary-looking vehicle was
what at first sight I took to be a donkey, but which on
closer examination I found was a pony, whose height
could only be given in inches, for it was below any measure-
ment to be calculated in " hands."

The driver and, presumably, owner, was well in keeping
with his remarkable turn-out, for a more weird-looking
individual could scarcely be imagined. Built on the
same limited scale as his steed, and with a long white beard
reaching to his middle, he had more the appearance of a
gnome than of a human being. The beard he wore,
seemingly, to economize in clothing, for it appeared to
be the only covering he possessed, the rest of his attire
being represented by a string round his waist supporting
a scanty strip of cloth, part of which hung down in front
and the remainder tucked into the cord behind. His head
was bare, but here again nature had supplied a covering
with a crop of hair which even a hairy-Ainu might
have envied, so lavishly had she bestowed her gift in
this respect. But despite his weird appearance, he was
not wanting in politeness. Salaaming low as I walked up
to inspect his quaint contrivance, he informed me that he
had been sent to convey my noble presence to the confines
of the jungle, where an elephant awaited me. The fact
that I bulked larger and was probably heavier than his
"horse" and trap combined, did not appear to trouble
him in the least, as with another low salaam he invited
me to get in. I found some difficulty in accepting this
invitation for the space between the canopy and seat was
barely eighteen inches wide. However, after two or three
attempts I succeeded and seated myself with my face
towards the pony, stretching my legs over its back. But
the old man who, I noticed, had been watching my
proceedings somewhat anxiously, now interposed, and
under his directions I assumed the orthodox position,
that is, sideways with my legs over the wheel.

91

CHAPTER XII

The old man now turned his attention to the pony, and
pulling at its head fairly dragged the animal into
motion, then, with an agility quite remarkable in one of
his age and attenuated appearance, suddenly jumped on
to the shaft, and we were off !

For a time all went well enough — especially the pony,
which for its size and shape proved as great a wonder as
its master, but presently the limited dimensions of the
trap began to tell upon my limbs and, added to the
fact that my legs were resting on the tyre of the wheel —
a piece of jagged iron hooping by the way — soon rendered
my position quite intolerable.

This was my first experience of travel on an " ekka,"
and, with heartfelt gratitude I say it, also my last, for
never has human ingenuity devised a means of locomotion
so thoroughly uncomfortable to the ordinary European
from every point of view, though to the supple- jointed
native it is quite a vehicle " de luxe," the thinness of his
legs enabling him to avoid contact with the tyre.

For four long painful miles I maintained my position,
changing it every moment in the hope of obtaining some
relief, but finally dismounted, preferring to walk the last
two miles rather than prolong the agony I endured.

Accordingly, divesting myself of as much clothing as
I could decently dispense with, I put them into the
" ekka " and telling the driver to hurry on and send the
elephant to meet me, I set out on my tramp.

But, to use an old familiar phrase, I soon found I
had " jumped out of the frying-pan into the fire," and
in an unpleasantly literal sense, for the heat I now ex-
perienced was worse than the pain I had endured, to
say nothing of the added misery of walking in top-boots.

However, my powers of endurance fortunately proved
92

A MAN-EATING HORSE

equal to the strain, but when an hour later, I saw the
elephant approaching, I sat down on the road, for now
the necessity was over, I felt I could not have walked
another yard in that awful, broiling heat.

Riding in front of the elephant on a prancing, pink-
nosed " country-bred " was a portly individual clad in
skin-tight uniform, evidently the sporting sub-inspector,
who, at the unwonted sight of his superior sitting in the
mud, rolled off his pink-nosed charger, and with many
maledictions on all " ekkas " and their inventors in English
and Hindustani, begged I would forgive him and condescend
to mount the elephant he had brought. I would have
preferred mounting his horse — in fact was walking up to
it to get on, when the brute came at me open-mouthed,
and but for a handy tree, round which I slipped, would
have seized me by the shoulder.

I made one or two more attempts, but with no better
success and at last, finding the exertion too fatiguing in
the heat, I decided on the elephant as a less troublesome
and possibly more certain mode of finishing my journey
than the other. I accordingly climbed on to the elephant,
though not without some difficulty, for it was a monster
even amongst its kind, a long-legged, wall-sided beast
nearly ten feet high and of evident antiquity as could
be seen from its hollow temples and the mottled-pink
appearance of the forehead and the ears. Its backbone,
shaped like the knife-board of an obsolete London 'bus,
protruded half a foot above the pad, showing traces of
many an old scar of sore-backs the patient beast had
suffered in its earlier days, when carrying the ponderous
howdahs used in ancient times. The " guddi " or pad
being in keeping with the animal's proportions, and
cunningly contrived with a slit down the centre, sat
squarely and firmly on its back, affording sufficient
accommodation for half a dozen persons, hence I could
change my position as I pleased.

Whilst waiting to start, I was much interested in watch-
ing the sub-inspector preparing to mount his fiery steed,
expecting to witness a repetition of the contest in which
I had been so ignominiously defeated, and secretly hoping,
I confess, to see the horse again victorious. But to my

93

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

intense surprise, not to say mortification, the animal
stood as quiet as a lamb, while the rider, too unwieldy
to get on alone, was helped into the saddle by the
" syce," the whole proceedings occupying quite an appre-
ciable length of time.

I mention this incident merely as an example of the
extraordinary antipathy occasionally displayed by native-
bred horses to persons attired in European clothing, more
especially if wearing a " Solah-Topee." The explanation
of this seemingly unreasonable animosity probably is
that these animals, unused to seeing human beings so com-
pletely clothed, possibly imagine them to be some
unknown monster of the jungles — about to attack them
and with the instinct of self-preservation, assume the
offensive.

Be this as it may, a native horse or pony, especially
if a stallion, is an animal to be avoided by Europeans as a
rule, nor are they safe even if successfully mounted, for
should the luckless rider happen to come off during the
journey he would probably be savaged by the beast.

The sub-inspector, having finally bestowed his huge
body comfortably in the saddle, leisurely gathered up
the reins and leading the way, we followed, my ponderous
animal starting with a jerk that nearly sent me off the
pad. We soon reached the borders of the forest, which
extended for about three miles, and having traversed it,
passed through a smaller jungle three miles further on,
in which, the sub-inspector informed me, the tiger was
said to be lying up, this jungle being within a short distance
of the out-post and village whence it had carried off the
dog.

On arrival at the out-post shortly afterwards, I found,
in addition to the usual line of constables drawn up for
my inspection, a crowd of elephants of all shapes and
sizes, which had been collected for my tiger-hunt from
various villages in the neighbourhood. After inspecting
the men, somewhat perfunctorily I am afraid, I turned my
attention to the animals, examining them more critically,
for on their quality depended the success or failure of
my enterprise.
94

OFFICIAL DUTIES

The result of my examination was far from encouraging,
for limited as was my experience in such matters at the
time, I possessed sufficient knowledge to perceive that
the lot of animals before me were not of a class to take
out tiger-shooting with any prospect of a successful issue.

With the exception of the giant I have described, they
were mostly an undersized, weakly, timid-looking crowd as
unlikely to withstand the rush of a raging tiger as they
would be to oppose a battery of artillery galloping down
upon them. However, they were the best that could
be had, so comforting myself with the reflection that
perhaps one or two out of the ten might prove stauncher
than the others I dismissed them, with orders to their
drivers to be ready at daybreak the next morning. *

The rest of the day and till late into the night I devoted
to my inspection duties so as to have the whole of the
next day free, for I knew that next to holding one's rifle
straight, time is the most important factor when engaged
in tiger shooting.

My arrangements for the night were simple and rapidly
completed. An elephant pad spread on the floor forming
my bed and mattress, while my Solah-Topee, with a coat
on it, did duty for a pillow, and under the influence of this
luxurious combination, plus the weariness born of my long
journey, I soon dropped off to sleep.

I had been asleep some hours, when I was awakened
by a sound as of a peal of thunder in the distance, and calling
to the sentry on the verandah, enquired if it was raining ?

" No, Sahib," replied the man, seemingly astonished at
the question.

" What is that rumbling then ? " I asked as another
peal louder than the last again disturbed the silent night.
But before there was time for a reply, I had recognized
those awe-inspiring tones, the same I had once heard
when travelling by palki at night.

It was the tiger prowling round the village as I guessed
from the change in the distance and direction of the
sound which, continuing at intervals for some time finally
died away. I listened for a while but all was still once
more, so concluding that the beast had now gone back to
its lair I again composed myself to sleep, but had hardly

95

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

closed my eyes when suddenly out of the death-like stillness
there arose a roar so appalling in volume and ferocity that
for the moment I was overcome with terror. Almost
simultaneously there came a loud bellowing of cattle,
followed a few seconds later, by yells and shrieks from
the village as the terrified inhabitants realized that the
tiger was amongst them.

Hastily putting on some clothes, I seized my rifle and
some cartridges and slipping two into the chamber, ran
towards the spot whence the sound proceeded, to find a
crowd of excited, shouting villagers, assembled round the
village cattle pound. After some difficulty I ascertained
at length that the tiger, which had apparently approached
the village unperceived, had made its way stealthily to
the pound and jumping the bamboo fence had seized a
small " Para," or buffalo calf, and springing out again
with its victim in its mouth, carried it off into the jungle.
Further, that of the villagers who had come out of their
houses on hearing the disturbance, two had been knocked
down by the tiger as it made off, but beyond a few
bruises were fortunately untouched.

Such was the story, so far as I could gather from the
excited, jabbering crowd of villagers around me, each
eager to tell his own version of the tale and to cap one
another as to the size of the beast, which was eventually
represented as being over twenty feet in length. One
important fact, however, established beyond a doubt,
was that the tiger had carried off the calf ; the importance
of this being that with this substantial addition to its
larder, the animal would now be more likely to lie up and
so prove a surer find.

With this comforting reflection, which I found was
shared by many of the less excited villagers, I left them
still discussing the situation and went back to bed,
resolved to make a third attempt to get some sleep that
night. This time I was more successful and was still
sleeping heavily when aroused by my servant with the
unwelcome information that it was nearly five o'clock,
also that my breakfast was awaiting me, and the elephants
all ready.

My toilet did not occupy me long and as I donned the
96

PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS

time-worn khaki suit, which with a pair of tennis shoes as
ancient, completed my attire, I wondered to myself what
the leather-shouldered, begaitered sporting exquisite of
the Moors would have thought of my get-up ! Though
doubtless, unless merely a sportsman in appearance,
he would gladly have exchanged with me, if only for a
glimpse of the quarry I was after !

Less than twenty minutes from the time I was aroused
found me once more on my Goliath en route for the
tiger's lair, while some feet below me, astride the smallest
of the elephants, was my sporting, fat subordinate with
his legs, as I thought, perilously near the ground, should
a scrimmage with the tiger form part of the coming
entertainment.

Now, as sporting sub-inspectors are somewhat scarce
and consequently valuable, I was unwilling he should run
any unnecessary risks and accordingly suggested he would
be safer on a larger mount, but I found he had already
grasped the situation and had selected this particular
animal as the one best qualified to deal with it.

" Yes, sir, the elephant is small, as your worship
observes," he replied in his quaint English, " but he is
also very swift and if the tiger should make onslaught
he will not await attack, but fly from the ferocious beast."

But although like a skilful general he had, as he thought,
thus secured his retreat, he was evidently ready to take
his full share of any fighting there might be, for in addition
to a police carbine, he carried a " khukri " and horse-
pistol in his belt.

Meanwhile we arrived at the jungle, which proved to
be much larger than I had expected, but fortunately
was divided into two nearly equal portions by a cart-
track running through the centre.

It was impossible to tell into which of these two bits
the tiger had dragged its victim, but the nearest or southern
portion seeming to be the densest, I decided on beating
this one first. In consultation with the sub-inspector and
two of the local, self-styled shikaris a spot was now
selected, within the opposite cover, a few feet behind
the cart-track, in which to conceal my elephant and myself.
The other elephants, with the sub-inspector in command,

H 97

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

were then sent round to beat the jungle up towards
me, while I employed myself in improving my view by
cutting down all superfluous twigs and branches, then,
loading my gun and rifle, waited in patient silence for the
beat to commence.

My position commanded a nullah or bed of some
streamlet now dry, along which the animal was expected
to come down, for its sides were clothed with bushes
affording just the kind of outlet a tiger would be likely
to make use of if forced to quit its lair. Unfortunately
in tiger- shooting there are no hard and fast rules as to
wThat the beast will do under any given condition, and,
as frequently as not, it is the improbable that occurs.

I had been waiting about an hour, scanning the silent
jungle to my front and either side till my eyes ached with
the effort to pierce its gloomy depths, when suddenly a
sound resembling the purring of a cat came from the
nullah, followed by a slight rustling of the bushes as
if some animal was moving stealthily beneath their
sheltering foliage.

These sounds continuing for some seconds ceased
abruptly, but for fully a half-hour longer I sat with my
eyes riveted on that nullah and my rifle ready for
instant use, expecting every moment to see the animal
appear, for that it was the tiger we had heard, I had not
the slightest doubt.

The Mahout, too, was of the same opinion, as was also,
very evidently, the elephant, judging from the uneasi-
ness it had shown while the animal was moving in the
bushes close below us.

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CHAPTER XIII

About half an hour after the incident just related, the
sound of the elephants crashing through the jungle in
the distance, warned me that the beat had now commenced
and that I might expect the tiger any moment.

In reply to my enquiries, the Mahout informed me that
he thought the beast, with its keener sense of smell, had
already scented the elephants and was trying to sneak out
when we heard it in the nullah, but catching sight of us,
had gone back and would now probably come out with a
rush. This was not encouraging, for the rush would, in all
probability, be heralded by a roar — a combination suffi-
ciently terrifying, I felt sure, to cause my elephant to
seek safety in flight — possibly through the tree jungle
behind me — in which case my position on the pad would
be decidedly precarious.

It was not a pleasing prospect, but there was no way
of avoiding it, except by abandoning my post, and that
was out of the question, for in spite of its danger, the
situation was fascinating beyond the power of language
to describe. It was one of those thrilling moments which
give to tiger-shooting the extraordinary charm it possesses
for all sportsmen, for there is something in the mere know-
ledge, or even suspicion, of a tiger's presence, a mys-
terious, awe-inspiring feeling, which, while it makes the
heart beat faster with a sense of the coming danger, yet
creates a determination to meet it at all costs.

Such, at any rate, were the feelings that possessed me
as I listened to the elephants gradually approaching,
knowing it could not be long before they had driven the
beast out of its lair, in fact they seemed to have scented
it already, judging from their loud trumpeting and squeals
and the cries and execrations of the drivers as they urged
their frightened animals to advance.

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

With my eyes again fixed on the nullah and my ears
on the alert to catch the faintest sound, I was watching
in breathless expectation, when I thought I heard a slight
rustling in the jungle some distance to my left. I turned
my head quickly in this direction, grudging even this
momentary interruption to my supervision of the nullah
on which all my hopes were centred, but quickly as I
had turned, I was too late, for the tiger was already half-
way across the track before I had time to realize it was
there. I brought my rifle to the shoulder, but all I could
now see of the beast was its tail, so, swinging the muzzle
forward, I fired off both barrels almost simultaneously,
trusting one of the bullets might find a fatal spot.

A loud roar in response encouraged me to hope the
animal was hit, but the next moment I heard it crashing
through the jungle at a pace which did not admit of any
such comforting hypothesis, and I was forced to the
conclusion that even if hit the wound was but a slight one.
A few minutes later, the elephants emerged on to the
track, their drivers all keen to learn whether the tiger had
been wounded, for they had heard the shots and from the
roar that followed had concluded, as I did, that the animal
was hit. Ordering them to remain where they were until I
had posted myself at some convenient spot on the other side
of the new cover, I went out by the cart track, and skirt-
ing the jungle for half a mile, finally reached the end of it,
to find a large tract of open country stretching as far as the
eye could see. I had brought the sub-inspector with me,
in order that he might see where I was posted and arrange
to beat in that direction, and we commenced at once to
search for a likely spot. It was difficult to find one, for
there was not a tree or bush outside the jungle where the
elephant could be concealed, and as to stand out in the
open would be obviously quite useless, I decided to take
up my position inside, if possible near some nullah or
other natural outlet, along which the tiger would be likely
to come.

Skirting along the face of the jungle, we soon came
upon a place likely to suit and, turning our elephants,
had advanced a pace or two towards it, when suddenly
without a sound or note of warning, the tiger was upon us.
100

THRILLING MOMENTS

With a roar, more terrifying than any I had ever heard
before, it rushed directly at me, open-mouthed, from a
distance scarcely over twenty yards and in another moment
would have sprung on my elephant's head. Fortunately
I had my rifle loaded, and as we turned towards the
jungle, had placed the hammers at full cock. My elephant
had swerved, but luckily to its right, thus enabling me to
fire with some semblance of an aim, and I let off both
barrels as quickly as I could.

The next moment both our elephants had turned
completely round and were careering across the open at
a speed which, had it been continued, must eventually
have ended in disaster, at any rate in my case, for such
rapid movement in a huge, unwieldy animal like mine,
gave to its enormous frame a motion much resembling
that of a small boat in a rough sea. Seated as I was on
the flat surface of the pad, I could only maintain my seat
by clinging on to the ropes — a poor support at best, for
these too, eventually worked loose, and I was thrown
from side to side expecting momentarily to roll off and
be seized by the tiger, for though I could not look behind
me, I assumed the beast was still in pursuit of us.

The sub-inspector's condition, if more secure than
mine, would probably have appeared more ludicrous to
the spectator, for, as I have already mentioned, he had
the misfortune of being remarkably stout, and his tightly-
clad figure bobbing up and down on the back of the little
animal not much larger than himself and somewhat
similar in build, presented a most ridiculous appearance.
He was riding practically astride, and in the excitement of
the moment, evidently imagined it was a horse that he was
on, for I could see his heels working against the animal's
side in his frantic efforts to increase its already racing speed.
Above the din created by the squealing and trumpeting
of the elephants, I could occasionally hear his voice, in
an agonized falsetto, pouring out vollies of abuse, alter-
nately in Bengali and English, his knowledge of the un-
parliamentary portion of both languages seeming to be
practically inexhaustible. For like the doubtless much-
maligned naval officer in the story — he never repeated
himself once !

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

Meanwhile, having continued our mad career for
close on half a mile without being overhauled by our
pursuer, the elephants, evidently concluding it had
abandoned the pursuit, gradually slowed down to a walk
and finally were brought under control.

We now decided to return to the scene of action, but
soon found this decision was more easy to arrive at than
to carry out, for both the elephants refused to make one
step in that direction and planting their fore-feet firmly
in the ground, stubbornly declined to move. Entreaties
had no effect on them and blows only produced an
exhibition of temper likely to prove dangerous if continued,
hence stratagem was finally resorted to and by making a
long detour we eventually succeeded in accomplishing our
object. Proceeding in a zig-zag, crab-like manner, we had
reached within a short distance of the jungle when we saw
a large crowd assembled there and amongst them the
remainder of our elephants, and could hear the hum of
human voices, raised in evident excitement.

Our elephants, on catching sight of the others, now
willingly advanced, and we were soon amongst the crowd,
shouldering our way towards the centre of attraction,
for from the excited, chattering villagers I could learn
nothing as to what all this excitement was about. Imagine
then the measure of my amazement and delight on gaining
the inner circle to find our late assailant lying stretched
out at full length and evidently, from the gaping crowd
close round, as dead as Julius Caesar, or any contemporary
celebrity ! Too impatient to wait for the elephant to kneel,
I slid down by its tail, eager to examine the beast more
closely and enjoy the indescribable fascination of measur-
ing a tiger I had actually killed myself — the first, be it
remembered, that I had shot or so much as seen, outside a
Zoo. I found my bullets had both taken effect, one through
the shoulder and the other in the neck. Searching further
I discovered yet another wound far back on the left side
of the body, which from the position must have been one
of the first shots I fired.

Order being to some extent restored, I questioned
the " Mahouts " and learnt that on hearing my two shots
they had hurried their elephants through the jungle and
102

PADDING THE CARCASE

as they came out found the tiger tying dead, death having
been apparently instantaneous, as well it might be, with
two such fatal wounds.

Our next job was to load the carcase on to a pad, and
a difficult one it proved in the excited condition the ele-
phants were in. None of them, except the one I was on,
had ever seen a tiger — dead or alive — before, and the
beast now lying at their feet was perhaps more terrifying
in appearance than many others of its kind. Measuring
nine feet ten inches from the tip of nose to end of tail
and bulky in proportion, this evil-smelling monster, with
its jaws set open, exhibiting a formidable row of teeth,
was just the kind of object calculated to strike terror into
the heart of an animal so timid by nature as are most
elephants till trained.

One by one each driver attempted to induce his animal
to kneel beside the carcase, but without success, some
resisting passively, but with stubborn determination ;
others, when pressed, tried to shake their driver off their
necks, while the smaller and more timid ones fled squealing
from the spot and were with difficulty brought back.

At length, when all had been tried but one — an old,
ragged -looking beast, seemingly the most nervous of the
lot — its driver, who had been watching the proceedings
with evident contempt, now brought his animal forward
and walking it close up to the carcase, ordered it to
" baith," the elephant's word of command to sit down,
whereon the beast, to our amazement, sank quietly
down upon its knees !

Meanwhile the Mahout, an old grey-bearded veteran
who was evidently something of a wag, called on the
villagers to help, and as some of them reluctantly came
forward, he threw them down a rope's-end to make fast
to the body, then pulling while they raised it, kept up
a running fire of witticism and chaff something in this
strain :

" Now then, brothers," he began, " lift up his sleeping
highness, but take care not to wake him or he might bite
you. Gently, now gently, my brave brothers, for if
you drop him he may be angry," and so on till the men,
falling in with his humour, worked away with a will and

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

soon the carcase was laid across the pad. The old man
then, with one foot on the elephant's head, and an
occasional muttered imprecation to prevent the beast
from rising, passed the long rope quickly round the body
and making it, as he thought, secure, ordered the patient
animal to get up.

Throughout these proceedings the animal might have
been a statue cast in bronze, so little did it notice what was
going on, nor even now did it seem to resent the pre-
sence of the carcase on its back, or the strongly tainted
odour it gave out. Wondering greatly what could be the
explanation for its extraordinary indifference to all that
an elephant holds most in terror, I questioned the old
man, jokingly enquiring what potent " Jadu," or spell,
he had used to bring about this remarkable condition in
his charge.

44 Protector of the poor, his slave is no magician able
to cast a spell, but only a humble driver of the elephant,
unworthy to speak in such a presence," he replied with
well-acted humility, though I thought I could detect a
lurking twinkle in his eye as he turned to his companions.

44 Well, well, never mind all that, but go on and tell
me how is it your elephant behaved so differently to the
rest and showed no signs of fear," I reiterated somewhat
angrily. The man, seeing I was in earnest, now obeyed.

44 My elephant is old, Sahib," he began, pointing to
the hollow temples of the beast, 44 and blind of both eyes,
also from a sickness has lost the power of smell. I can
therefore take him where other elephants will not go."

This then was the explanation of the mystery and
undoubtedly the true one, as the whole demeanour of
the animal showed plainly, but that it still possessed
the sense of touch and hearing, we were presently to
discover. The tiger being loaded, I distributed some rupees
amongst the villagers for the assistance they had given,
then, with the other elephants following in single file,
headed the procession on our way back to the outpost,
the tiger-laden beast a long way in the rear, lest its strongly
scented burden should upset the other animals.

We had proceeded about a mile, the Mahouts all
jabbering away together in a wild state of delight at the
104

AN ELEPHANT'S FEAR

success of our adventure and thinking doubtless of the
enormous " backsheesh " the achievement would be likely
to produce. Suddenly, a terrible uproar rose behind us,
followed by a regular stampede of the elephants, evi-
dently flying from some common enemy in pursuit, and
before I had time to wonder what had caused this sudden
panic, the old tiger-laden animal, with trunk uplifted
and its tail at right angles to its body — dashed past me at
a pace almost inconceivable in one so old and feeble in
appearance. I now discovered the cause of the alarm, for as
the beast flashed by me, squealing and trumpeting in its
terror, I saw that more than half the carcase of the tiger was
trailing on the ground, while the rest of it, held by a por-
tion of the rope still round the loins, was banging
against the elephant's side with every step it took.

Now if there is one thing these animals are more
sensitive to than another it is being touched by any person
or object unknown, in fact cases are on record of elephants,
when going through high jungles, bolting suddenly without
any apparent reason, simply because a hare happened
to brush against their feet. In this present case, the animal
being blind and without the sense of smell, the terror
inspired by the huge object knocking against its body
may therefore be easily imagined. What had actually
happened was this. The body of the tiger, hurriedly
secured, had gradually worked loose with the motion of
the elephant, till its head and shoulders, being the heavier
portion, finally slipped off the pad, and the elephant,
feeling the sudden shock against its body, had started
off at once. The others, hearing the terror-stricken beast
behind and winding the carcase as it drew nearer,
probably imagined it was another tiger in pursuit, and
becoming utterly demoralized in consequence, fled with
one accord. The Mahouts possibly for the moment as
terrified as their charges, made no attempt to check them,
nor would they have succeeded had they tried, for the
animals I could see were in a state of abject terror and
for the time quite beyond control.

What followed now I will describe as briefly as I can,
for I fear I have already devoted more space than I intended
to give to this adventure.

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

I had hardly time to take in the situation when my

own elephant, suddenly seeming to realize the generally

disordered condition of affairs, started off too, and for the

next few minutes my position was not one favourable for

observation, all my time and energy being devoted to

maintaining my seat upon the pad. However the huge

unwieldy beast, incapable of enduring two such violent

efforts within so short a period of each other soon pulled

up, and I was thus able to watch the proceedings of the

others. The elephant with the tiger's body partially

suspended from the pad was still going, but owing

probably to its blindness had wisely left the direction of

the flight in the hands of the " Mahout," who, though

unable to check its speed, was cleverly steering it in a

circle, and finally as the animal slowed down for a

moment, he scrambled backwards on to the pad and

undoing the rope which held it, let the carcase slide off

on to the ground. Falling with a thud, it alarmed the

elephant afresh, but only for the time, for soon — finding

itself freed from the encumbrance — it quickly quieted

down again and eventually pulled up. Meanwhile all

the other animals were either out of sight or showing

here and there as mere specks on different points of the

horizon, except the sub-inspector's little mount which, to

my surprise, was standing some distance off, seemingly

wondering what all the commotion was about !

The process of re-padding the tiger — rendered doubty
difficult now — had to be gone through, but the old man
proved equal to the job, and with the assistance of the
villagers, who had followed in the procession, the car-
case was hauled on to the pad again, and well secured this
time, it eventually reached the outpost without further
adventures.

10G

2*aa

CHAPTER XIV

The news of our success had evidently preceded us, judging
from the crowd awaiting our arrival — men, women and
children, all eager to catch the first glimpse of the dread
beast ; and the roar of acclamation with which they greeted
it expressed more eloquently than words their feelings of
relief. And well might they be thankful — unarmed and
defenceless as they were — especially during the long dark
hours of night when asleep within their flimsy, mat-walled
huts, which would have afforded no protection had this
cattle-killing 'beast suddenly taken to preying on human
beings, as is sometimes the case.

No sooner was the carcase thrown off the pad, than it
was surrounded by the noisy, excited throng, all crowding
round it and yelling with delight, down to the smallest
naked urchin perched astride its father's hips, and joining
in a shrill treble with the rest, as it gazed in round-eyed
wonder at the crowd. Later on, after the novelty of the
spectacle had to some extent worn off, the excitement was
renewed when, the skin being removed, the dissection of
the carcase was commenced, this operation seeming to
possess the greatest fascination for all present. The reason
soon became apparent, for presently the crowd pressed
closer round the body, then, as each particle of flesh was
detached, swept down on it like vultures, fighting with
each other to secure the loathsome object. It was an
extraordinary scene, none the less remarkable for the fact
that all these people were Hindus, and of a fairly high
degree, to whom the mere contact with a dead body was a
defilement sufficient to out-cast them.

However, the mystery was soon explained, for on
questioning one of the men who had just secured his portion,
I learnt that it was the fat adhering to the flesh that they
were so eager to secure, " tiger-grease " being, he informed

107

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

me, a certain cure for all diseases — particularly rheumatism,
an ailment almost always prevalent in that damp climate.
Whether this faith in the remedy has ever been justified
by results I am not prepared to say, but that it is universal
throughout Bengal my subsequent experiences have proved,
for in after years with any tiger that was shot there was
always this demand for its fat.

Being personally interested only in the skin and head,
I had these trophies carefully removed lest they, too, should
possess some hidden virtue and so mysteriously disappear
during the night, and thus deprive me of the sole evidence
I had of my achievement. For, unfortunately in those
early days of my apprenticeship, I had not as yet discovered
that in addition to its skin and head, a tiger owns some
other trophies, equally coveted by the sportsman, and —
according to native superstition — infinitely more valuable.
For, buried deep within the flesh and muscles of each
shoulder, and unconnected with any other bones, lies
a thin, flat, bony membrane, said to bestow on the
individual fortunate enough to possess one, every kind of
luck possible to be obtained in life, provided he carries it
continually on his person.

These floating, or " Lucky Bones," as they are now
called, in shape very much resemble a hockey stick in
miniature, and vary in length from about two to three
inches, according to the size of the animal to which they
belong. They are, so far as I am aware, a comparatively
recent discovery to European sportsmen, since I can find no
mention made of them in the earlier books on Indian sport,
nor, indeed, in any of the more recent ones that I have
read, but to the natives they have apparently been known
for generations and looked upon as charms. However,
being at that time in blissful ignorance of the existence
of such treasures, I was quite happy in the possession of
the head and skin and, above all, in the knowledge that
I had at length attained the long-coveted position of
having shot my first tiger.

Early the next morning, even before the noisy jungle
cock had proclaimed the coming dawn, I was on my way
back to the station, mounted this time on one of the smaller
elephants which was reputed to be fast, and easier — as it
108

DAWN IN THE JUNGLE

well might be — than the Mammoth I had travelled on before.
The pace of my new mount had not been overrated and,
when about half-way through the forest, it suddenly broke
into a rapid kind of jog-trot, due, the " Mahout " informed
me, to its having scented a tiger or leopard in the jungle.
It was impossible to tell which of these two the animal
might be, for although dawn was now approaching, within
the forest it was still as dark as night — this uncertainty
adding much to the interest of the situation, as may be
imagined. But the suspense was not of long duration, for
presently out of the gloomy depths, there suddenly arose
the harsh, guttural, unmusical cry of a leopard, evidently
prowling near us, though possibly unaware of our
proximity. Fortunately the beast was behind us, for had it
been in front the elephant would probably have now turned
tail and bolted, but with the enemy in its rear, was only
too anxious to run the other wray, which it did, and with
considerable rapidity for about three-quarters of a mile.
Meanwhile the leopard continued its awe-inspiring
solo at intervals for some time, the sounds gradually
growing fainter as we sped along the track, till, having
finally died away in the distance, the elephant resumed its
ordinary pace.

The remainder of our passage through the forest was
uneventful, but fascinating to a degree, if only for the
novelty of the situation, for I had never before traversed
a heavy Indian jungle at this hour, where, and when,
nature is to be seen at her very best.

Day had broken soon after we passed the leopard, and
as the sun rose higher, occasional beams of light would
come flashing through the trees on to our path, where
every now and then a covey of jungle fowl or partridge,
or a stately peacock could be seen, crossing from one side
to the other. Occasionally too, we could hear a rustling in
the jungle as some larger beast — a pig or deer most likely
— lurking near the edge, moved further in, alarmed at our
approach. Our elephant had doubtless heard them too, but
betrayed no emotion and, beyond turning its trunk in
the direction of the sounds, took no further notice, evidently
satisfied that these movements were not of any animals
dangerous to itself.

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

The morning was well advanced before we had passed
out of the forest, and our route now lay along the broad,
white road, on which the sun, no longer obstructed by any
foliage, shone down with momentarily increasing power,
vapourizing the heavy dew which had fallen in the night
till it rose round us like steam from a Turkish bath.
This uncomfortable condition continued for two long,
steamy hours during which time we underwent much the
same process as a piece of beef or mutton put to bake
inside an oven, but with the added luxury of being
roasted as well under the broiling sun.

The elephant, except for the fact that it was burdened,
came off best of all, for nature with her usual forethought
in all that she creates, has filled the interior of these animals
with what may be described as reservoir, and portable
shower-bath combined, of which the beast made frequent
use. Inserting its proboscis half-way down its capacious
throat, it would draw up from this occult receptacle a
gallon or two of water at a time, then withdrawing its
trunk, gently squirt the cooling liquid all over its steaming
body, repeating the operation with a frequency that
suggested an inexhaustible supply. Thus, continuously
refreshed with this self-contained, cooling apparatus, it
kept up a rapid pace, and at the end of the time stated,
brought us to the spot where I had so confidingly
exchanged my pony for the " ekka."

Here, while the pony was being saddled, I took the
opportunity of making a scratch lunch off some bread and a
bottle of milk I had brought with me, and while munching
the former made a strange discovery which added con-
siderably to the enjoyment of the meal, for bread
already two days old and exposed for hours to the sun,
when eaten without butter is not a very interesting
repast. So, thinking to render it more palatable, I made
a hole in the centre of the loaf intending to fill up the
cavity with milk, but, to my surprise, found I could not
pour the liquid out.

Holding the bottle up to the light I examined it more
closely, when imagine my astonishment and subsequent
delight to find it full of yellow pellets floating in the milk,
some of them as large as a good-sized marble, which
110

HOW TO MAKE BUTTER!

on tasting I found to be little balls of butter as good as
any I have eaten.

The bottle filled with fresh milk and tightly corked
had been slung on to the pad, where the continuous rapid
motion of the elephant had produced this inestimable
result, and without any apparent diminution in the
quantity of the milk. But what was still more remarkable,
the milk had not suffered from the heat, but was as pure
as when taken from the cow. This extraordinary
phenomenon — though easily explainable — was yet so
curiously brought about that I feel some diffidence in
recording it lest the reader should suspect that, like a
certain well-known Baron before mentioned, I had
allowed my pen to wander into the realms of romance.
However, encouraged by the knowledge that truth is
occasionally as strange as fiction — sometimes even stranger !
— I venture to relate it.

I have said that the bottle wrapped in straw had been
slung on to the pad, and here, hanging by a cord some
way below the edge, it had received the full force of the
shower-baths indulged in by the elephant, hence being
alternately exposed to wet and heat, was constantly under-
going a process of evaporation which had kept its con-
tents as cold as if in a refrigerator and consequently
sweet.

Now to make butter in a bottle and cool liquid by
evaporation are both methods well known to Anglo-
Indians, most of whom have probably witnessed these
operations, but there are few who could imagine it possible
for an elephant to perform them, and will doubtless think
I am telling a traveller's tale.

Having demolished half the loaf with considerable
relish, I gave the remainder to the pony, then, mounting the
grateful beast, commenced my long ride into the station
under a blazing sun.

The day was of the " another fine morning, Colonel,"
kind, to quote a remark once made by a newly joined young
subaltern one sweltering April morning on parade —
eliciting a reply more forcible than polite from his long-
suffering superior, who for thirty years had witnessed these

111

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

44 fine mornings " with an ever-growing longing for the
clime of his native land.

It was late when I reached my bungalow, and found
my friend Burke seated smoking in the verandah. He
knew I was expected, and longing to hear how I had fared,
had come over after tiffin and was eagerly awaiting my
arrival.

" Have you got him ? " he shouted, without any
preliminary greeting, as I cantered up to the door, " the
leopard, I mean," he added, evidently anxious to make the
question clear.

" No," I replied, truthfully enough, but in a despondent
tone of voice, while secretly rejoicing at the opening it
had given me for carrying out the little drama I had
concocted during my long ride.

44 What, not even a leopard," he exclaimed. 44 Well,
I am blowed ! One hundred miles there and back and
nothing at the end of it ! No wonder you look glum.
Never mind, old man, better luck next time ! "

It was as much as I could do to keep my countenance,
but while longing to undeceive him, was determined not
to give the show away, until the arrival of the skin which
was coming in on an elephant with my things.

44 But how about the dog ? Did you find any remains
of it ? " continued Burke, with embarrassing persistency
in his eagerness to discover all I had done.

44 No, I saw nothing of them," I replied, 44 nor of the
cow, said to have been killed later, which "

44 A cow ! " he interrupted. 44 Why then, perhaps it
was a tiger after all ! "

44 Perhaps it was, but I must be off to office now. When
I come back to-night I will tell you all about it." And thus
evading further questioning I left him still deploring my
bad luck.

We did not meet till dinner-time, when he again
reverted to the subject, pressing me with questions I
found some difficulty in answering. Fortunately the
arrival of the elephant created a diversion for the moment.
But a minute or two later, my servant suddenly
appearing at the door with a bundle in his hand, soon
brought matters to a head, for with a native's capacity for
112

EXCUSABLE DECEPTION

always doing the wrong thing — he asked me where he was
to put the skin !

" Hullo ! What have you got there ? " asked Burke,
his suspicions instantly aroused, but before the man had
time to answer, I ordered him to take it away and lay it
out on the verandah, and replying to my friend's enquiry,
told him it was the skin of a rare animal I had shot, and
one very rare in the district, as he would admit when he
saw it. That the skin might be that of a tiger did not
seem to strike him even now, for he had apparently
forgotten all he had said as to their non-existence in the
district, so when later on we went out on to the verandah
with the lamp and saw it lying there, spread out in all
its length and beauty, the situation will not be difficult to
imagine !

Over what followed after this, it is best to draw a veil,
for my friend's language was somewhat too lurid to be
recorded here ; not that he was annoyed at having been
taken in, for this, he admitted, he had deserved for not
guessing the truth, but that he should have been five
years trying to shoot a tiger, whereas I had got one on
my first attempt, and the biggest hitherto shot in the
district, was, he declared, more than human nature could
be expected to put up with.

113

CHAPTER XV

The next few weeks went by with the usual monotony of
life in an Indian station where each successive day is an
exact counterpart of the one preceding, even to the
weather, which, except during the monsoon, affords no
speculative interest.

My old friend Kali Dass, true to his promise, had
arrived. One day, shortly after my tiger-shooting expedi-
tion, I had suddenly come upon him when out for my
morning ride, trudging wearily along the dusty road
with all his goods and chattels slung on to a bamboo.
Being on this occasion in his ordinary attire, our recognition
had been mutual. He told me he had obtained a promise
of some employment in the town, but could arrange to
place himself at my disposal before taking it up, should
I require his services for any little police job that might
happen to be on hand just then.

This meeting was most opportune, for as it happened
my mind was much exercised at the time with a murder
case of more than ordinary difficulty which had hitherto
baffled the local police, and all my own efforts to detect.
The murder had been committed in a village consisting of
two factions, one infinitely more numerous and influential
than the other, and the crime, being evidently the work
of one or more members of the former, evidence was difficult
to obtain in the ordinary way.

It was just one of those cases in which an individual
unconnected with either party, and possessed of some
detective ability, like Kali Dass, would be likely to obtain a
clue which might subsequently be followed up by the police
and lead to the discovery of the murderers.

After some further conversation on the subject, I
put him in possession of the facts, so far as had yet been
ascertained, and it was finally arranged that he should
114

A MURDER CASE

take up his quarters in the village — suitably disguised — and
report personally from time to time how he was pro-
gressing. Meanwhile, to further his chances of success, I told
him I would order the official enquiry to be closed and
withdraw the police from the village, so as to give the
impression they had failed, and abandoned the investiga-
tion. Then, giving him some money for his expenses,
I rode back to the station.

Our next interview had been fixed for a date some three
weeks later at the same place. Accordingly, on the day
appointed, I rode out again and found my amateur de-
tective, admirably disguised in the garb of a " Faquir."
awaiting my arrival. He was full of information, in fact
within this comparatively short period, had not only found
a clue, but practically discovered who were the persons
actually concerned in the murder together with a full
history of the crime, and the reasons which had led to its
commission. His extraordinary success on this occasion —
one probably hitherto unequalled in the annals of detective
work — was not, however, due this time entirely to his own
skill, but rather to his good fortune in finding himself
accidentally in a position of all others the most favourable
for his purpose.

It seems that on arrival at the village, he had, in
his role of a religious mendicant, been invited to take up
his quarters in the house of an old blacksmith, who happened
to be a relative of the victim of the crime. Here he had
come across an old acquaintance in the person of a deaf
and dumb dwarf, with whom he had been formerly associ-
ated when wandering round the country with the " Barupi "
and his band of whom the little deaf mute was a member,
as one of the side-shows of the performances. He had
struck up a great friendship with his diminutive companion,
and, by dint of constant practice, had become thoroughly
conversant with a peculiar kind of sign-language used by the
latter. Conversing with him now, by means of this same
language, he had ascertained from his old comrade that
for some months past he had been a protege of the murdered
man and had lived with him and his wife as a servant,
in the house in which the murder had been committed, till
the morning on which the crime was discovered.

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

On the night of the murder he was sleeping as usual
in a room connected by a passage with the one occupied
by the couple, but feeling chilly had crept quietly into the
passage, and wrapping himself up in some gunny- bags
kept there, went off to sleep. Although the passage was in
darkness, there was a light in his master's room, and
happening to awake in the middle of the night, he saw the
wife get out of bed and, after looking cautiously around,
unfasten the front door, letting in four men, one of whom
he recognized as her reputed lover and the other three
as his brothers, all belonging to the village, and sons of
one of the most influential persons in it. Two of the four
were armed, one, the lover, with a dagger, and another carry-
ing a short club. Standing listening for a while, they crept
stealthily towards the bed, then, of the two who were un-
armed, one thrust a cloth into the mouth of the sleeping
man, at the same time as the other seized him by the
arms. The other two then set upon him, striking savagely
with knife and club, as he struggled to get free, and con-
tinuing their blows till satisfied that life was quite extinct ;
then they broke open a big chest, and scattering its contents
went out as they had entered, taking their weapons with
them, little thinking they had left behind an eye-witness
of their crime.

The woman, who during the awful tragedy had been
standing with her back against the door, now rebolted
it, and picking up some of the jewellery and small valuables
which had been thrown out of the chest, buried them in a
hole which she dug in a corner of the floor, evidently to
add to the impression that robbery had been the motive
for the crime, then with one last careful survey of the
room, forced open the door and ran shrieking into the
road that her husband had been murdered.

Meanwhile the wretched deaf mute, half-paralyzed
with terror at the scene he had witnessed, lay shivering
in his gunny-bags enclosure, till realizing that if found
there he might be suspected or summoned to give evidence
— which with most natives is almost as much dreaded —
had crept back to his room, where he lay pretending to be
asleep till roused by the police. He had been questioned
by the latter, but here his affliction stood him in good
116

A DEAF AND DUMB WITNESS

stead, and when finally made to understand by signs the
purport of the questions, replied by the same means that
he had been asleep all night and knew nothing of what had
occurred ! He had been detained on suspicion for some hours
and kept under observation during the course of the
enquiry, but there being no evidence against him, was
finally released, and had since lived with his present master,
to whom he had not divulged his secret.

Such was the substance of the story which Kali Dass,
with commendable ingenuity, had extracted from the
dwarf, most of which, he told me, the latter had acted in
dumb show, and was willing to repeat to me, provided
there were no " red-puggree " men (meaning the police)
present, by no means an unusual proviso in those days
when the rank and file of the new police force were
regarded by most villagers with feelings of distrust.

The description of the manner in which the murder had
been committed tallied so completely with the medical
testimony — based on the post-mortem — both as to the
nature of the injuries and weapons believed to have been
used, as to give a semblance of reality to a story otherwise
somewhat suspiciously circumstantial. I accordingly
determined to visit the village at once and question this
dwarf myself, so telling Kali Dass of my intention to
do so the next day, and warning him of the necessity of
keeping the matter secret, I hurried home to make my
preparations.

The village was some fifteen miles from my head-
quarters, and was also the police-station, to which I
despatched an officer and ten men in plain clothes, timing
their despatch so that they should arrive about the same
time as myself, and be available in case any arrests had to
be made, but said nothing to them of the duty they were
sent on.

The next morning I started early, catching up the
party within a few miles of their destination, and rode on
to the station, where I awaited their arrival, meanwhile
informing the station- officer of the purport of my visit,
I told him to be in readiness to accompany me in plain
clothes. About a couple of hours later, on the arrival of
the others — it being now nearly twelve o'clock — most of the

117

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

villagers were preparing or eating their mid-day meal,
amongst them Kali Dass, or the " Baba-Jee," as they
called him, and a weird-looking individual whom I con-
cluded was the dwarf. Standing scarcely three feet six
inches in height, he might at first sight have been mistaken
for a boy but for his abnormally large head added to a
strangely wizened face and long orang-outang-like arms, all
of which suggested an ancestry not altogether human.

Catching sight of me, he pushed his way excitedly
through the crowd, and making a low salaam, first pointed
to himself, giving utterance to some sounds, doubtless
intended to convey his meaning, but which were wholly
unintelligible, then beckoning for me to follow him,
started off in the direction of a hut a little distance off.
His intention was evidently to take me to the hut in
which the murder had been committed, and where the
surroundings would enable him more easily to re-construct
the crime, but as it was not advisable that this should be
done before the men suspected had been secured, I deter-
mined to arrest them first if possible. Accordingly,
pretending I did not understand, I signed to him to
wait, and appealing to the villagers crowding round, asked
whether any of them could question him in some way as to
his " strange conduct ! "

None of them seemed able or willing to do so, till at
last the " Baba-Jee," alias Kali Dass, taking advantage
of the situation, as I had intended he should, pushed his
way to the front and without a sign of recognition on his
ash-besmeared countenance, said that " if the Huzoor
would permit, he thought he might perhaps be able to
make the inflicted one understand him."

I answered him in Bengali — a language I knew the
others would not be likely to know — saying that I wished
to have the suspected persons identified at once, at the
same time telling my sub-inspector in English to have
his men ready to arrest any one the dwarf might point out,
and to see that none of those present left till this was done.
Meanwhile all eyes were turned on the strangely assorted
pair who, without the use of words, seemed to be con-
versing without difficulty, and in a manner apparently
mutually intelligible. Most of this silent talking, however,
118

IDENTIFICATION OF SUSPECTS

was being done by Kali Dass, whose conversational powers
were evidently not to be impeded by any such trifling
difficulty as a privation of speech, his many strange and
varied gestures being clearly as eloquent as words ; for
that his companion fully understood the purport of these
pantomimic proceedings was evident from the look of
intelligence on his face, and an occasional nodding of the
head as he grasped their meaning. The strange conference
did not last many minutes and at its conclusion, the dwarf,
showing his approval by several nods of approbation, now
slowly pushed his way through the crowd of wondering
rustics looking fixedly at each one as he passed, till he
came to two stalwart young men of superior bearing who
were standing side by side. Pointing excitedly to them he
made desperate attempts to speak, but in vain, his efforts
resulting merely in some incoherent sounds, and immediately
afterwards pointed out two more, all of whom at a sign
from the sub-inspector were promptly taken charge of by
his plain-clothes police.

There was now only the woman left to be identified and
as I knew we should probably find her at the hut, I went on
there with my prisoners, whom, I noticed, seemed much
taken aback, in fact, were apparently too surprised at
the turn events had taken even to ask for any explanation.

On arrival at the hut, we found two women outside
employed husking " Paddy," one of them quite young
and of remarkably prepossessing appearance, who on
seeing us attempted to get away, but the dwarf was too
quick for her and running forward, seized her by the wrist
and, half-leading, half-dragging the struggling woman,
brought her up to me. Pointing alternately at this woman
and to one of the two prisoners first arrested, a rather
good-looking youth, he was evidently trying to inform
me that he and the woman were the chief offenders,
hence I concluded that the youth must be the lover already
mentioned.

The woman having been handed over to the police,
I now went inside the hut, taking with me the five prisoners
duly guarded, the head-men of the village, the dwarf and
Kali Dass, in his capacity of interpreter, and commenced
my enquiry into the case. With practically the whole

119

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

village shielding the accused, and a deaf mute as the only
witness for the Crown, the prospects of a successful issue
were not encouraging. However, having embarked on
the undertaking I was determined to proceed with it.

We had no sooner entered the hut than the dwarf,
walking over to one corner of it, indicated by signs that
one of the constables should lie down there, evidently
to represent the murdered man, and this being done, he
took the woman by the arm and made her lie beside him.
Then going into a dark passage leading from the room,
took up some gunny-bags, and wrapping one or two round
him, lay down himself. Then, in an admirably enacted
dumb show, interpreted here and there by Kali Dass,
he described the subsequent proceedings, from the time
the woman had opened the door and let in the four
prisoners, up to the actual commission of the crime itself.

120

CHAPTER XVI

So far the history of the murder was revealed, and there
now remained only to discover what particular part in it
had been taken by each of the male accused — a problem
under the circumstances somewhat difficult to solve. But
here again the resources of the deaf mute were not found
wanting, for on the difficulty being explained to him by
Kali Dass, he soon hit upon a plan for overcoming it.
Signing to the constable to lie down again, he selected
two of the prisoners and took them up to him, then,
pointing to one of them, rolled up a piece of his own
clothing into a ball, and before the unsuspecting repre-
sentative of the law had time to object, forced it into his
mouth, following up this attack by seizing hold of his arms
as he indicated the other prisoner. He then led up the
other two accused and again in well-acted dumb show,
too realistic to be misunderstood, represented how one of
them had stabbed the prostrate figure, while the other,
with some weapon grasped in both hands, showered down
blows upon the head.

At the close of this very vivid representation, the
constable got up, and looking about him in terror-stricken
wonder, seemed quite relieved at finding himself alive and
uninjured, as was not unnatural, considering the veri-
semblance of the performance.

The five suspected persons were now formally charged
with the offence and emphatically repudiated all know-
ledge of the matter, especially the woman, who, not
satisfied with protesting her own innocence, made a
counter charge against the dwarf, accusing him of having
committed the crime himself !

" There is the man who killed my poor husband," she
exclaimed, " that misshapen, evil-minded monster, who
now to save himself has made up this false story," she

121

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

went on, pointing to the dwarf. Then, thinking to
strengthen the accusation, she asked Kali Dass to question
him as to " what he had done with the jewellery he had
stolen," thus playing her last trump, so to speak, little
guessing that she was thereby supplying another link in
the chain of evidence against herself. For, as it so
happened, the dwarf in his anxiety to describe the
manner in which the murder had been actually com-
mitted, had — on this occasion — omitted to represent her
subsequent concealment of the jewellery — an incident I
also had forgotten. But now that I was reminded of
it, I realized how important the finding of this jewellery
would be, so, procuring a spear from one of the " chokidars "
outside, ordered one of my men to dig up the floor, the
dwarf, quick to guess our purpose, indicating the exact
spot.

The plinth on which the hut was built being, as is
usual, of mud, was easy of excavation, and the man had
hardly dug six inches down when he came upon a bundle,
which, on being opened, was found to contain several
articles of gold and silver — mostly jewellery of the kind
worn by native women.

From the look of surprise on the faces of the male
prisoners, it was evident they knew nothing of this matter —
the woman, on the other hand, seemed utterly dum-
founded and though still protesting she was innocent, I
could see she thought the game was nearly up. The
case against the prisoners might now be considered as
complete, and, by the ordinary individual, to have been
proved beyond the shadow of a doubt, still the " oral
evidence " (?) was of such an extraordinary nature that
it was quite possible the Court might refuse to admit it.

However, I decided to send them up for trial, and as
soon as possible, for there were already symptoms of a
hostile demonstration which might lead to an attempt
at a rescue by their friends who, as I have said before,
belonged to the more powerful faction in the village.

Accordingly, strengthening the party already guarding
the prisoners with some constables taken from the
station, I dispatched the four men at once to headquarters,
in charge of the sub -inspector, but the woman I ordered
122

A CURIOUS MEAL

to be lodged in the lock-up for the night, intending to
question her again the next morning.

My next care was to find a lodging for myself and
something in the way of food ; the first I found in a
" Bo^tok-Khana," a kind of outer building, roofed but
minus walls, belonging to the head-man, which I preferred
to the station office-room with its cockroaches and odour
of fusty papers combined with native ink.

Food, however, was a much more serious problem, for
intending to be back in time for dinner I had only brought
some sandwiches which I had already consumed.

Finally, after a long and mysterious conference of all
the station staff, an old china slop-basin and a willow
pattern plate were produced and placed on the office table,
followed shortly by two pewter platters, one containing
curry and the other a pyramid of rice. The contents of
these two platters were then transferred into the bowl
and plate respectively by the self-constituted waiter —
otherwise the head constable — a Mohammedan, who now
" begged that my Highness would condescend to partake
of the meal specially prepared by his wife."

I was not slow to accept the invitation, and requesting
him to thank the lady for her kindness drew my chair up
to the table, only to find that there was neither spoon nor
fork nor any other implement with which I might convey
the food into my mouth. Like Tantalus of old I sat for
some moments gazing at the banquet so temptingly
displayed, my longing to partake of it increasing every
moment as the fumes of the savoury mixture ascended
from the bowl. At length, no longer able to resist the
appetizing odour, I seized upon the bowl, and emptying
its contents over the rice, mixed the two together with
my fingers into portable consistency, then, following the
custom of the country, disposed of it by handfuls.

Now, whether due to my long fast, or the super-excel-
lence of the compound, I cannot say, but when I had finished
— which was not until the plate was quite empty — I came
to the conclusion that of all the wondrous dishes, I had
eaten since I came to India, never had I tasted anything
so good. True, the primitiveness of the method employed
for its consumption necessitated subsequent ablutionary

123

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

proceedings of a somewhat more elaborate description than
that afforded by the ordinary finger-bowl of civilization, but
this had been provided for in the shape of a large earthen-
ware jar of water. A plantain or two and some native
sweetmeats, prepared by the same fair lady's hands,
completed the repast and, after smoking two long,
contemplative pipes, during which period I reviewed the
whole of the day's proceedings, I retired to my airy
chamber, where, fanned by an ever-handy " chokidar," I
soon dropped off to sleep.

I awoke to find my room bathed in a flood of sunshine
very agreeable to the eye, but in the absence of protecting
walls somewhat overpowering, for early as was the hour
the sun had already gathered power enough to make his
presence felt.

Forgetting for the moment where I was, I called out
as usual for my early morning tea — such slaves are we to
habit — then, realizing the situation, with a sigh of resigna-
tion sprang out of my string bed and consoled myself with
a cold refreshing wash.

Happily, while I was dressing, the head constable
appeared with a bowl of milk in one hand and, to my
indescribable amazement and delight, a mug of hot tea
in the other ! It appeared that this fairy-godmother in
police uniform had, when in the ranks, once served as
orderly to one of my predecessors, and with the usual
native perspicuity had noted the white man's general
weakness for this beverage.

Being like most Mohammedans somewhat partial to
this delicacy himself, he generally kept a small quantity in
stock, and knowing it was the first thing Sahibs clamour
for in the morning had brewed the welcome jug-full.
It was not quite Orange-Pekoe, or any other such
choice product of the plant, but it was tea, made with
boiling water and reasonably strong, which when mixed
with milk hot and frothy from the cow and accompanied
by " Chuppattes," an unleavened kind of bread, pro-
vided as delectable a meal as the heart of man could
wish for.

The incidents just related may be taken as a fair
124

EVILS OF OVER-EDUCATION

specimen of the kindliness and good feeling which existed
between natives and Europeans before discontent and
sedition — the products possibly of a supererogatory educa-
tion system — had laid their baneful hold upon the people,
creating in their minds envy and distrust of those they
had previously esteemed and regarded with feelings of
affection.

Space does not admit of any lengthy discussion of this
subject, nor is it one perhaps to be discussed in a record of
adventure ; but it must be evident to any one with
lengthened experience of the country, that, apart from
the spirit of anarchy and socialism, now generally preva-
lent, the condition of unrest in Bengal is due in a great
measure to over-education. For it stands to reason that
to educate a people up to a standard far exceeding
their ordinary requirements — thus qualifying them to hold
the highest official positions and appointments in the land —
without giving them a full share of such appointments,
must necessarily create discontent, which the very educa-
tion they have received enables them to voice through
the Press in language sufficiently eloquent to be convincing
to the. masses who, no longer illiterate, can read and digest
these inflammatory effusions.

But now — with my apologies to the reader for this
digression — I will continue. Having disposed of my
44 little breakfast " with a relish which those accustomed
to this early meal will easily understand, I went over to the
police-station, my brain full of the many questions I
intended asking the prisoner. But no sooner had she
been brought out of the cells for my interrogation than
she fell down at my feet and clasping them with both
hands burst into a flood of tears. Then, rising to a
sitting posture, and now beating her head, now tearing
at her clothing, as is the manner of native females when
under the influence of grief, cried out between her sobs
that providing her life was spared, she would tell me all
she knew about the crime !

Waiting till she was somewhat more composed, I told
her that if she wished to make any statement, I would
record it, adding the usual warning that it might be used

125

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

against her, but that if her statement was accepted it was
possible she might be made Queen's evidence, the
meaning of which I explained to her.

" Let it be as his Highness may decide. His slave will
put her life into his hands," she replied, after some
moments' pause, then, wiping her tears away with a corner
of her cloth, she commenced telling her story. Word for
word I put it down as she repeated them, in the presence
of two head-men of the village, and when she had made an
ending read them out to her as the law requires. It was
a long statement, a full confession in fact, incriminating
herself as well as her four male accomplices, all of whom
she named, specifying the two — her lover and another —
who had actually dealt the blows and the weapons they
had used.

Her story, almost in every detail, was the same as
the one so ably told already in dumb-show by the dwarf,
with one addition only, viz. that it was the lover who had
suggested her husband should be killed, and had forced her
to assist in the commission of the crime — a statement
possibly untrue and merely added to save herself. How-
ever, be this as it might, the confession she had made
was sufficient for my purpose, so placing this valuable
record in a cover addressed to the district officer, I
despatched it, together with the woman, requesting him
to have her statement recorded by a magistrate and
admitted as Queen's evidence.

Having now done all that was possible, I went out into
the village, ostensibly for a stroll but really in search of
Kali Dass to tell him his services might be required as an
interpreter in Court, and presently came upon him the
centre of a respectful crowd to whom he was describing
some imaginary pilgrimage he had made to " Kasi-Jee,"
the holy city of Benares !

I stood listening to him a while, lost in admiration of
his marvellous powers of invention — for I knew he had
never been near the place — till, finding an opportunity,
I told him to be in Court when the dwarf was being
examined, as an ordinary spectator, and that I would
arrange he should be selected to interpret if required.
Hurriedly whispering these instructions I left him, and
126

SEARCHING PRISONERS' HOUSES

passing through the crowd was on my way back to
the station when he overtook me, and holding out his
cocoa-nut shell, as if asking for alms, enquired in an under-
tone, " whether I had now discovered all I wished to know ? "

" Yes," I replied, " and now that the woman has con-
fessed, the evidence against the four men is very strong."

" It might be stronger still, Sahib, if the houses of the
two principal ones were searched," he observed.

" But they have been searched already by the police,
when making their first enquiry, and "

64 Yes, so I have heard," he interrupted, " but the eyes
of the police are sometimes blind — as no doubt his Honour
is aware — and it would be best to search again, in the
thatching of the roof possibly something may be found —
who knows ? "

He had doubtless more to tell me, but at this moment
seeing some men approaching he passed on, clinking his
iron tongs and loudly invoking the several deities in the
jargon peculiar to these wandering, indigent followers of
Brahma, and as if to the manner born.

Meanwhile I lost no time in acting on the hints he had
thrown out. Hurrying on to the station I took the head
constable and some men, and proceeded at once to the house
lately occupied by the two men indicated, and after the
usual formalities commenced my search. The house, or
hut, was typical of an ordinary native rustic dwelling-
place, consisting of but one fair-sized apartment enclosed
with walls of bamboo matting, raised on a two-foot plinth
of hardened mud and surmounted by a heavily thatched
gable roof. A large string bedstead, or " Charpoi," occupied
one side of the room and, with the exception of a wooden
chest in the corner, was all the furniture it contained,
while on the other side was the usual " chula," or native
cooking-range, built in the floor against the wall.

The sole visible occupants of this dwelling at the
moment were a centipede and some cockroaches, but
doubtless many smaller members of the insect tribe lay
concealed in the interstices of those walls, which, be-
grimed with the smoke and dust of ages, would be likely
to shelter the most objectionable of their kind.

The search of the premises proper did not occupy many

127

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

minutes, for besides the chest which merely contained
some brass utensils there was no other closed receptacle
in the room; but there still remained the ceiling or
rather inner portion of the roof, and to this I now directed
the head constable's attention. It was not an easy task,
but with the assistance of the bedstead finally accomplished,
and resulted in the discovery, not only of the knife and
bludgeon described by the deaf mute and the woman, but
also some blood-stained clothing which had evidently been
worn by the two men at the time. The chain of
evidence was now indeed complete, these last silent, yet
most eloquent witnesses of the crime, being the only links
which had hitherto been missing. Wrapping them up
carefully in a parcel, which was sealed in the presence
of the witnesses to the search, I fastened the precious
packet on to my saddle and half an hour later started on
my way back to headquarters.

128

CHAPTER XVII

The case came on for trial in due course, before my friend
Benson, the joint magistrate, who, when the deaf mute
was produced as a witness, was much puzzled as to how
he should proceed; for, while thoroughly realizing the
importance of his evidence and prepared to record it
through the medium of an interpreter, as suggested by
the prosecuting counsel, he was confronted at the start
with the seemingly insolvable problem as to how the oath
was to be administered to the witness !

The leader for the defence seeing the difficulty he
was in, and only too eager to add to it, was not slow to
take advantage of a situation so calculated to hamper the
proceedings. Rising to his feet with all the importance of a
counsel retained at a thousand rupees a day, he addressed
the Court in flowery language, dwelling on the enormity of
the crime, not of the accused, but of his " learned friend
on the other side " in attempting to fix so grave a charge
upon his clients by the evidence of a witness who could
neither speak nor hear, and to whom the nature of an oath
could not possibly be explained.

Following up this flow of eloquence with various quota-
tions from the Evidence Act, he proceeded to point out
their special application to the case, till I could see that the
unhappy Benson — to whom the Law of Evidence was now
merely an unpleasant vision of past examination days —
was nearly driven mad, and no wonder, for of all the legal
volumes in existence it is perhaps the one best calculated
to upset one's mental equilibrium.

Fortunately for the ends of justice the advocate for
the Crown was equal to the occasion, and unexpectedly
produced some more recent High Court Ruling also
bearing on the subject, resulting in a lengthy and some-
what acrimonious discussion between the two learned

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

exponents of the law. Finally Benson, who was really
clever, and for one outside the profession an exceedingly
good lawyer now, with his memory refreshed soon dis-
covering the Crown prosecutor was in the right, overruled
the objections of the other.

The " Baba-Jee," otherwise Kali Dass, who formed
one of the crowd of interested spectators, was now called up
and being duly sworn was told to explain the process to
the dwarf, which he did by a series of strange gestures, so
cleverly conceived as to leave little doubt as to their
meaning. First pointing to his tongue, then upwards —
evidently to indicate the sky — he went through a form of
prayer or invocation as if calling upon heaven to witness
what he was about to do, then placing the palms of his
hands together in the usual attitude of a witness giving
evidence, turned towards the Court.

The dwarf, following these movements with considerable
interest, was apparently somewhat non-plussed at first,
but gradually, their meaning seeming to dawn upon him, a
look of intelligence spread over his face, and nodding his
head in token of having understood stepped into the
witness-box.

The Court was now cleared of all but those immediately
concerned in the proceedings, and one of the peons having
been selected to take the part of the murdered man, the
deaf mute once more described in dumb show how the
crime had been committed. His story, if such it might
be called, differed in no way from the one already recorded,
indeed, so similar was it in every detail that both parties
agreed to waive cross-examination, which was just as well,
for even with the assistance of so clever an interpreter
as the Baba-Jee, the task would have been well-nigh
impossible.

The woman was next examined and also adhered to her
statement, and on being shown the weapons and clothing,
identified them as belonging to the men in whose house
they had been found. Several other witnesses having also
deposed to this effect, the four accused persons were charged
with the murder and denied all knowledge of the crime,
calling several witnesses, all of whom were eventually
examined, but failing to establish their innocence, the four
ISO

SENTENCE OF DEATH

prisoners were finally committed to take their trial at the
Sessions.

There was an interval of some weeks between the com-
mittal of the men and the final trial, during which time
Benson often discussed the case with me, which, as his
connection with it was now over, he was at liberty to do.
He seemed very doubtful as to whether the Judge would
convict the men on the sole evidence of an accomplice,
for, as he observed, " Old M'Tavish is sure to find some
legal reason for refusing to admit the dwarf's."

" You know our friend's opinion of the police, and
he's bound to think this deaf mute business is another
example of their ' iniquitous methods ' for procuring a
conviction."

His fears, I knew, were not altogether groundless, for
as a judge, M'Tavish really was impossible, his unreason-
ing antipathy to the police blinding his eyes to any skill
or virtue they might occasionally exhibit.

" Yes, but as this particular ' iniquity ' happens to
have been initiated by myself, let's hope he will level his
wrath at me this time, and give the police a rest," I replied
laughing, though really in earnest, for I did not wish the
sub-inspector who had acted under my orders to be
blamed unjustly.

However, when the case eventually came on, to our
surprise the deaf mute's evidence, taken in the same
manner as before, was not only admitted, but evidently
credited, for a couple of days later, when present in the
Court, I had the satisfaction of hearing all the men found
guilty and sentenced to be hanged. But with this conclusion
of the case, and subsequent confirmation of the sentence
by the High Court, came trouble, which, to some extent,
had been anticipated. For on the night before the execution,
I received information that a large body of men — friends of
the condemned — had come in from their village, intending,
it was said, to attempt their rescue.

I reported this at once to Granville, the district
officer, who, with characteristic promptitude, directed me
to send down a strong force of armed police, immediately
to the jail, in front of which the scaffold had been erected,
and having done this, I informed Benson, who was

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

charged with the duty of seeing the sentence carried
out.

The execution was fixed for 6 a.m., but long before
this hour Benson and myself had arrived at the jail to find
an enormous crowd assembled, most of them armed with
" lathis," or long bamboo staves, and all in a most
dangerous state of excitement, calling out loudly for the
prisoners to be released. There were five hundred of them,
perhaps more, a number quite sufficient to have over-
powered the ordinary guard, and they would possibly have
attempted it had it not been for the presence of the extra
force sent down.

But this double line of resolute-looking men, many
of them of the fighting " Rajput " caste, drawn up across
the gate, had evidently presented too formidable an appear-
ance ; still as the time drew near, the excitement became
proportionately intense, till I realized that something must
be done. Assuming command, I gave the order for the men
to fix bayonets, then, with both ranks facing outwards,
formed a line up to the scaffold, the effect of this movement
being to split up the crowd, thereby creating a diversion for
the moment, which, as it turned out, proved of much
advantage ; for, most fortunately, during this temporary
confusion, the small wicket gate was opened, and the
four prisoners, pinioned and strongly guarded by jail
warders, were brought out and led through the double
line of armed police and reached the scaffold unperceived.

In view of this disturbance taking place, the jailer,
an Irishman and old sailor, had been instructed to shorten
the proceedings as far as it was possible to do, and with the
ingenuity born of his early training had so arranged that
all four executions should be simultaneous, by enlarging
the drop platform and strengthening the cross-beam with
bamboos to take the extra strain.

Up to this moment the condemned men were not aware
of the presence of their friends, and had seemed com-
paratively resigned to their fate, but, when being led up
the sloping stage on to the drop, they saw them and
realized why they had come, all their composure left them,
and struggling frantically to get free, implored them to
come to their assistance. The effects of this appeal upon
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ATTEMPT AT RESCUE

a crowd already almost beyond the bounds of control,
may easily be imagined. Brandishing their lathis and
shouting to each other to tear the scaffold down, they
made a rush towards it. However, anticipating some such
demonstration, I had already consulted Benson, and now
ordered the men to load with ball-cartridge, repeating the
order loudly in Hindustani, lest they should imagine blank
ammunition was to be used.

Now, whether it was the act of loading — a somewhat
impressive process in those days of muzzle-loaders — or the
glistening line of bayonets pointing in their faces, I
cannot say, but as the three-score rods went home in one
loud ringing clank, and the men at the next order came
up to the " Ready," the advancing crowd, with one
accord, stopped dead.* For quite an appreciable period,
the two opposing forces stood facing each other — those
of law and order, grim, silent but determined — the others,
still brandishing their sticks and giving expression to their
feelings in loud cries and execrations against the police and
all their methods.

Meanwhile overhead the jailer who, by a clever ruse,
had succeeded in pacifying those on the scaffold, rapidly
completed the last grim preparations and presently,
while the crowd were still vituperating the police, the
loud crash of the heavy platform as it fell, announced the
close of the dread tragedy.

It seems that the old sailor, quick to take advantage
of the commotion down below, had persuaded the hapless
victims to allow the final preparations to be made, under
the impression they would be permitted to address their
friends later, but no sooner had the nooses been adjusted
than, obtaining Benson's order, the bolt was withdrawn.
The deception was no doubt justifiable under the
peculiar circumstances of the case, for any prolongation
of the proceedings would not only have added to the mental
anguish of the culprits, but might also have led to a serious
disturbance probably ending in the loss of many lives.

The mob, taken completely by surprise at this coup
d'etat, for so the jailer's action may be best described,

* The arming of the Indian police with breech-loadera ia of com-
paratively recent date.

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

seemed paralyzed for the moment, and by the time they
had realized what had happened the object for which they
had assembled no longer existed. With shouts and cries,
now changed from threats to mournful wailings, they
stood there for a while, gazing at the scaffold, whence all
that was left of their late comrades now depended. Then,
with the exception of some relatives, gradually dispersed,
eventually returning to their village, here, probably to
concoct some scheme of vengeance to be applied as
opportunity offered, against the police.

Thus ended what was perhaps one of the most curiously
detected and extraordinarily proved cases ever tried in any
law court; one of those mysterious Indian crimes which
baffle all ordinary police methods to discover, not always
because such methods are not honestly applied, as is the
common outcry, but as often due to causes such as I have
attempted to describe, when the people themselves combine
to shield the real offenders and obstruct, instead of aiding,
the police ! *

In this particular instance, although every enquiry
possible was subsequently made, nothing transpired to
indicate that the station officer concerned had not used
every effort in his power to detect the crime, but with
practically the whole village leagued against him it was
not surprising that he had failed.

The role assumed by Kali Dass was a happy inspiration,
for only in such guise was it possible for an outsider to have
taken up his residence in the village without suspicion,
but he, too, with all his talent for intrigue, might not have
succeeded had the deaf mute been a stranger, instead of an
old acquaintance.

Immediately after the final trial was concluded the
M Baba-Jee " vanished from the district as completely as
if he had been the ghost of the Faquir he represented,
leaving no trace behind him of his temporary visitation.
His sudden disappearance, however, passed unnoticed,
for these religious mendicants are somewhat peripatetic
in their habits — seldom staying longer than a week or two
in one place — so that, when a few days later, a certain
Gopi Lall Hulwai, who had been expected, took up his

* The case was, so far as I remember, quoted in the Law Report.
134

KALI DASS RETIRES

duties as salesman to the chief sweetmeat maker in the
town, no one except Benson, Granville and myself were
aware that the individual hawking the greasy condiments
in the street, had been once the much revered Baba-Jee
Faquir ! However, this was his last performance as an
amateur detective, for he told me later that his original
criminal associates, having discovered that he was aiding the
police, had threatened to kill him should he be found
assisting them again.

135

CHAPTER XVIII

For some months after these events, nothing of any
interest or importance occurred either to disturb, or in
any way enliven our peaceful, but distinctly monotonous
existence, which the subsequent advent of the rainy season
with all its accompanying discomforts had not tended to
improve.

At length, one day in the first week of September, a
time when, owing to the continuous heavy rain, many of
the rivers were in flood and all the low-lying portions of
the district consequently submerged, one of my chokidars
came in to report that a tiger, driven from its ordinary
habitation, had sought refuge in a small jungle-clad plateau,
which the still rising waters had since converted into an
island.

Burke, who was present, on hearing the man's story,
at once proposed that we should go.

" The place is only twenty miles off, I see," he added,
consulting the map hanging on the wall, M and we can
easily drop down to it in a boat."

44 But how about the elephants ? " I objected. " We
can't well take them in boats, and the jungle is sure to be
too thick at this time of the year to go after the beast
on foot ! "

These were little difficulties he had apparently over-
looked, but they in no wise damped his ardour. Moreover,
being of a resourceful disposition, he presently suggested
a way by which they might be overcome. For it so
happened that within a mile or two of this jungle was a
village belonging to a petty Rajah, who was said to
possess some elephants of sorts, for ceremonial purposes.
Burke had, it appeared, in the course of his various pere-
grinations, made the acquaintance of this magnate, and he
now proposed that we should write, inviting him to honour
136

A RIVER VOYAGE

us with his presence at the shoot, an invitation he could
not well refuse, and would not be likely to detract from the
pomp and splendour of his coming by leaving his elephants
behind. The suggestion was no sooner made than adopted.
Having indited and dispatched the all-important invitation,
couched in the flowery language of the East, we set to work
at once on our preparations for the voyage. The first
and most important consideration was, necessarily, the
boat, which was not only required to take us to the village,
but also to reside in for the next two or three days, tents
being out of the question at this time of the year. There
were several good-sized vessels plying up and down the
rivers at this season, and we soon found one amongst
them suitable for our purpose, which we hired for the
occasion together with a smaller boat or dinghey to serve
as a kitchen and shelter for our servants. Both these
vessels were fitted with bamboo matting cabins extending
over half their length, the one in the larger boat being
quite a substantial structure with a thatched roof and two
windows, giving the boat something of the appearance of
a house-boat on the Thames.

Burke and myself, like most Indian officials, being
always in a condition of preparedness, ready to start on
the shortest notice for anywhere in the district no matter
how far off, no time was lost in completing our arrange-
ments ; hence in less than three hours after we had
decided on the expedition, we were off, but when, some
five hours later, we tied up to an island for the night,
found to our disgust that although wre had actually
travelled over twenty miles we had only made good ten,
this seemingly paradoxical result being due to the many
windings of the river.

However, cheered by the information that our course
would be a less tortuous one next day, we lit the large
lantern we had suspended from the ceiling, intending to
fill up the time before we could reasonably order dinner,
in overhauling our arms and ammunition so as to be ready
to take the field immediately on arrival. Unfortunately
we had overlooked the fact that we were moored close up
to the banks of the island, which though small was rank
with rotted vegetation, the home of myriads of insects of

137

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

every shape and size, but more especially that pest, the
flying white ant. These, attracted by the bright light of
our lantern, immediately invaded us, flying through the
open doors and windows in their thousands, and, hovering
round the lantern for a while, would drop on to the flooring
which in an incredibly short time was carpeted with
hundreds of pairs of wings, each insect shedding these
appendages as soon as it alighted. Of the other winged
invaders the most objectionable were the " Gundis," a
diminutive black beetle, closely resembling a lady-bird
in shape, but possessed of a most evil-smelling odour,
which they emitted, as they buzzed noisily around us, in
concentrated doses till the atmosphere of the cabin was
well-nigh intolerable.

Presently too by way of improving the situation
the residential insect population, also attracted by the
light and possibly resenting the intrusion of outsiders,
issued from their various tenements in the roof and matting
of the cabin where they had hitherto lain concealed.
These were mostly cockroaches, but of a size I had never
seen before, some of them being quite two inches long
and in admirable condition, which was not surprising as
we learned later that the last cargo carried by the boat
had been jars of oil, the staple food of the cockroach or
" Tailchutter," its native equivalent, and signifying " Oil-
licker."

Now as it happened both Burke and myself had a
particular aversion for the insect tribe in any shape or
form, and finding after a time that the new-comers had no
intention of returning to their places of concealment,
nor the others back to their jungle, we decided to leave
them in possession and pass the night ashore, a most
unwise and perilous proceeding in the height of the rains,
but it was a case of Hobson's choice, and, as Burke observed,
it was better to expose ourselves to the risk of catching
fever than to the certainty of being eaten up alive by
cockroaches and white ants, hundreds of which, now
wingless, were crawling about the floor. Being myself
quite of the same opinion as my chum, we lost no time
in carrying out our project. Selecting a spot compara-
tively free of jungle, we ordered the crew to collect ail the
138

UNWELCOME VISITORS

oars, punting poles, sails and tarpaulins available and set
to work to construct a tent or shelter for the night. Fortu-
nately the native " Mullah " or boatman is generally a
handy individual, quick to grasp and carry out any idea,
and in a very short space of time, these, working under
our direction, ran up a small platform some five feet off
the ground; an upright pole at each end of it, connected
by a third, formed the superstructure, over which was
thrown one of the tarpaulins, and with another spread
on the flooring the interior of our hut was rendered
as nearly damp-proof as was possible considering its
situation.

We now entered into possession, but profiting by our
late experience hung the lantern up outside before we
ordered dinner to be served, preferring to dine alone,
although in semi-darkness, to being troubled by any un-
invited guests.

Probably, although in blissful ignorance, we consumed
some of the " natives " with our meal, for we had seen them
flying in thousands round the stove in the kitchen boat,
and it would have been impossible to prevent some from
tumbling into the pot. However, the dishes tasted none
the worse, and having devoured all that was put before
us, with appetites increased by the delay, we lit our pipes
and sat up for some time, thoroughly enjoying the situation,
which prejudicial as it might be to health yet possessed a
certain fascination if only as an out-of-the-way experience.
It rained heavily during the night, but thanks to our
tarpaulin roof we only heard the rain, and although the
sound of it awoke us not a drop came through, for the
tarred canvas was fortunately new and being set at a
sharp angle prevented any accumulation.

However, we were not destined to pass the night with-
out adventure, and one which might have ended seriously
but for my friend being fortunately an exceptionally
light sleeper. We had both dropped off to sleep again
and had been asleep some time when Burke, whose bed
was at the end furthest from the light, feeling a weight
upon his chest, started up at once; at the same moment
something fell or jumped on to the ground. Instinctively
he knew it was some animal, and afraid to speak lest it

139

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

should attack him, he stretched across the space between
us, and shook me gently till I woke.

"Get up, quick, but don't speak loud. There is a
leopard, I think, below," he whispered, as he fumbled for
his rifle in the semi-darkness. At first but partially awake,
the last few words were all I heard, or fairly understood,
but they were quite sufficient to rouse me into action, and
in an instant I was on my hands and knees, also groping
for my gun, wrhich, loaded with ball, was lying near my
bed. A moment or two later both of us, with our respective
weapons ready for instant use, were kneeling on the
platform, peering out into the darkness and listening
intently for any sound that might betray the whereabouts
of the beast. The rain had ceased, and except for an
occasional croaking of the frogs, there was not a sound
to break the stillness of the night which was now intensely
dark, the dim light from the lantern on the other side only
serving to accentuate the gloom.

Presently, however, having gradually become accus-
tomed to the darkness, we perceived an object a few
yards to our right, a long, low, shadowy shape it seemed
and motionless, I thought, till Burke, keener sighted than
myself, drew my attention to what looked to me like
something moving close behind it.

" Look," he whispered, " there's its tail, it is a leopard,
as I thought, and evidently not in the best of tempers ! "
And he was right, for I could now make out the beast
distinctly as it lay facing us with its head between its
forepaws and the tail waving to and fro with that quick
sinuous movement which, in all the cat-tribe, is indicative
of anger. In its present threatening attitude, it seemed as
if the brute might attack us any moment. Fearing this,
I suggested we should fire, but Burke would not agree.

" No," he said, " we might miss or only wound it. Wait
till we can get a broadside shot, which will give us a better
chance of killing it outright."

This was doubtless sound advice, for in the position
it was lying, the head was the only fatal spot exposed, a
target too small to make certain of in that uncertain
light, and yet had we fired and missed it would have charged
us to a certainty. Thus, for perhaps a minute, but which
140

A LEOPARD ON THE PROWL

seemed to us an hour, we remained as we were, motionless
as statues, staring at our foe, while the latter, equally
immovable except for a continuous movement of the
tail, seemed to have its eyes fixed on us, also as if waiting
an opportunity to attack. Suddenly, seeming to realize
that we could see it too, it rose quickly to its feet and
before we had time to bring our weapons to the shoulder
had bounded off into the jungle out of sight.

Afraid to leave our post lest it might appear again,
we continued watching for a while, scanning the fringe of
jungle to our front and on either side, as far as we could
see, but in vain, nor were there any sounds of movement
in the jungle to indicate the presence of any animal within,
near enough for us to hear it.

Finally, concluding that the beast finding itself dis-
covered, had gone off altogether, I mentioned this to
Burke, adding that " it was a pity now we had not risked
the charge and fired when we had the chance." But he,
with his greater knowledge of leopards and their ways,
had by no means given up all hope as yet.

" Don't you make too sure," he said. " Leopards are
cunning beasts and rarely act as one expects them to.
I remember once "

This possibly interesting reminiscence, however, re-
mained unrelated, for at this moment, and seemingly from
a clump of bamboo close beside us, there came the same
unearthly sound I had heard that night in Calvert's
bungalow.

" There ! " cried Burke irascibly, " do you hear that ?
What did I tell you ? The wily brute, confound it, has
been lying there, foxing all this time." But while my
friend was thus wrathfully giving expression to his feelings,
the object of his resentment had evidently left its shelter,
for I could hear it now moving stealthily through the
jungle; indeed so cautious were its movements and so
careful was the animal to conceal itself entirely from our
view, that it might easily have passed by us unnoticed
had it not proclaimed its presence by its cries, which,
curiously enough, it continued to emit at intervals all the
time. This extraordinary inconsistency in its behaviour,
however, has its explanation in the fact that leopards,

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

when they find themselves in a dangerous situation,
invariably give utterance to these terrifying cries in order
to intimidate the object, whatever it may be, whence the
danger threatens. Such at any rate is the opinion held
by native " shikaris " and others who have studied the
habits of these animals. Be this as it may, it sometimes
happens as was the case on this occasion, that the animal
is, so to speak, " hoist on its own petard " by betraying
its presence to the sportsman.

Having drawn Burke's attention to the movements
in the jungle, we followed the sounds carefully, till rinding
they tended towards an opening to our left, we kept our
eyes fixed upon this spot ready to fire directly the leopard
snowed itself. These sounds gradually came nearer and
soon the same long, shadowy shape we had seen emerged
slowly from the jungle, but before it had fully cleared it
we had fired, the two shots in combination producing a
report as of a field-piece, seeming all the louder for the
intensity of the silence all around us ; but louder almost
was the cry of the stricken beast as with one convulsive
bound it gained the opposite cover, where it stood on end
a moment pawing the empty air, ere it fell back with a
crash into the jungle and lay struggling for a while roaring
loudly in its agony and rage. Finally its cries and struggles
ceased, but whether the beast was dead or merely
wounded we could not tell. Anxious to know for certain,
I suggested we should follow up at once and ascertain this
fact by closer observation, but Burke wisely refused.

" No," he said, " it is still too dark to risk encountering
a leopard possibly only wounded, and perhaps lying up
in wait ! " We argued the matter hotly for some time,
but finally yielding to his superior knowledge of these
beasts, I reluctantly gave in, and fortunately so as the
sequel proved.

142

CHAPTER XIX

Meanwhile our shots together with the leopard's noisy-
roaring had roused those sleeping in the boats, and jumping
to the conclusion it was a tiger we had fired at and wounded,
a panic seized upon them, imagining in the extremity of
their terror that it would now attack them in the boat.
In fact, judging from the shouts and yells that reached
our ears, we might have imagined such a catastrophe was
imminent, for we could hear some one shouting that he
could see the animal in the jungle, another that it was
rushing down towards them, while others, more practical
than imaginative, were calling out to cut the boats adrift.
This last suggestion, seeming to be received with unanimous
approval, was evidently about to be carried into effect,
when presently above the monkey-like chattering of the
others we heard the voice of my orderly, a huge up-
country Mohammedan, protesting loudly in authoritative
tones.

" What ! " he cried, " you would take the boats away
and leave my Sahib and the ' Inginere ' Sahib to be eaten
by the tiger ? Wah ! wah ! what a fine arrangement !
but do you think I am a woman — or a fool ? Tie up those
ropes again, you sons of pigs, at once, or I will make you
tiger's meat yourselves ! "

Then came the sounds of a violent scuffle, followed by
sundry splashes in the water as of men being thrown, or
jumping overboard. All was then quiet for a while, but
about a quarter of an hour later, the orderly walked up to
the platform dragging the two " Manghis," or head boat-
men, with him, tied together with their cloths.

" Preserver of the poor," he said, bringing his hand to
the salute, " these two are thieves whom I have caught,
and who with the others were trying to run off with the
boats of the Sahibs." He then went on to tell me what

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

had happened, concluding with the suggestion that they
should be awarded some form of corporal castigation on
the spot. However, as it was now nearly daylight, and
there would soon be light enough to investigate the
jungle, we decided to make the men accompany us in our
search as being the most suitable kind of punishment for
their offence.

Their prosecutor was delighted with what he considered
was a most Solomon-like judgment, and while we were
waiting the coming of the dawn we could hear him below
us enlarging on the dangers they were likely to en-
counter, evidently determined they should have the full
benefit of the sentence. Consequently, when half an hour
later, we started on our quest, the men were in such a
terror-stricken condition that we were afraid to take them
with us lest, in the event of our finding the leopard still
alive, they might hamper our proceedings. Leaving
them, therefore, in charge of the orderly, much to his
disgust, for like most of his class he was a sportsman by
nature and eager for the fray, we went on alone.

Walking shoulder to shoulder, holding our weapons
at the ready with the hammers at full-cock, we advanced
cautiously, step by step till we reached the spot where we
had seen the beast fall, but here, except for the trampled
jungle and a splash or two of blood, there was nothing to
be seen. However, after a careful examination we found
a fresh track leading further into the jungle, and following
this up for about five-and-twenty yards came upon another
trampled, blood-stained space, where the animal had again
evidently fallen ; beyond this the jungle was much denser,
but following the still-continuing track, we bored our way
through, and advancing slowly and laboriously had made
good a yard or two when we suddenly came upon our quarry
lying all doubled up in a heap, and fortunately, dead, for
we had almost stepped upon the carcase before we were
aware that it was there.

It was a leopard sure enough, and a fairly big one too
so far as we could judge, but what interested us more was
the fact that the body was still warm ! thus proving
beyond a doubt that the animal must have lived for a
considerable time after it was hit. The position of the
144

SKINNING THE CARCASE

bullet-holes, of which there were two, also favoured this
belief, for both shots were badly placed, one being far
behind the shoulder, and the other in the loins, neither
likely to cause instantaneous death, nor even to cripple
the beast at once.

" Well, perhaps you will admit now that ' discretion
is the better part of valour ' — sometimes," said Burke,
as we finished examining the wounds, deftly quoting the
old proverb, which was certainly most applicable to the
case, for had we done as I had suggested, one or both of
us perhaps, would undoubtedly have been mauled.

We had already shouted to the orderly, telling him of
our find and the latter, presently arriving with the two
" Manghis," we contrived, between us, to carry the carcase
back, much surprised, as we retraced our steps, to find how
far we had come. On measuring our prize we found we
had not over-estimated its size, for it proved just over
seven feet in length but in miserable condition, the animal
having probably existed without food since driven on to
the island by the floods.

The skinning of the carcase proved a difficulty, none
of our men having any knowledge of the process ; finally
the task was entrusted to the cook, as being likely to do
the least amount of damage, a supposition based on the
somewhat illogical conclusion that being a cook he must
necessarily know something of the business ! This
unfortunate individual, however, born and bred in the
suburbs of Calcutta, had never seen a wild animal in his
life, and on being told to commence the operation pro-
tested vehemently, declaring that nothing would induce
him to approach, much less touch the dreaded beast.
Finally, on the promise of much " backsheesh " from
ourselves and a little " gentle persuasion " from the
others, he was induced to take up the job and managed
to get through it, apparently in more senses than one, for
when we examined the skin later it seemed a remarkably
transparent one !

In the meantime the crew had dismantled our little
shanty and the sails and oars, etc., being restored to their
places, we resumed our voyage, making much better
progress now that the river was less winding in its course.

L 145

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

Later in the day, taking advantage of a favourable breeze,
they hoisted the sail, an enormous " expanse of canvas,"
otherwise bits of gunny-bags of various shades and texture
ingeniously pieced together and out of all proportion to
the size and stability of the boat. Under the influence of
this masterpiece in patch-work we were carried along,
with perilous celerity, for had the wind shifted for one
moment to our beam, we must assuredly have capsized.
However, speed being the chief consideration at the time,
we put up with the peril rather than risk another day's
delay. The boatmen, too, with characteristic thoughtless-
ness, had made the sheets and halliards fast, but finding
the wind increasing we substituted slip-knots and placed
a man at each, ready to let go at once should the necessity
arise, and with this, the only precaution possible, we were
forced to be content. Fortunately we experienced no
such variation, nevertheless our fears were by no means
groundless, for these squalls are not infrequent, and native
boats being flat-bottomed and unballasted are in such
circumstances notoriously unsafe when under canvas.

But dangerous as was the situation, it had yet that
charm about it which comes of rapid motion, no matter how
produced, and is usually accompanied by a desire to go
still faster till all sense of danger is forgotten, however
imminent it may be. Such, so far as I can remember, was
the condition of my feelings, shared to all appearances by
my chum as aided by wind and current we bowled along
at a pace which could not have been under ten miles an
hour, judging from the rapidity with which we passed the
trees and bushes on the banks. Proceeding at this speed
we were not long in reaching our destination, where we
arrived about two in the afternoon, and were immediately
surrounded by a large and excited crowd of villagers to
whom the object of our coming was evidently known.

We soon learnt the cause of their excitement, for it
appeared that the jungle in which the tiger had sought
refuge was within half a mile of the village, and only separ-
ated from it by a narrow strip of water affording no
impediment to the beast should the pangs of hunger
prompt it to make an incursion on the village. Under
these circumstances, the advent of two Sahibs, bent on
146

" DOLLIES "

slaying this dreaded monster and armed with the necessary
weapons of destruction, was naturally hailed with delight,
and soon trays of native sweetmeats, vegetables, fruit, etc.,
were sent down by the head men to our boat, as the usual
token of their respect and, in this instance possibly, gratitude
for coming to their relief.

Amongst these offerings, or " Dollies," as they are
termed, were three items strangely in contrast with the
nature of the rest, to wit, two bottles of Scotch whisky
and one of soda-water, which the donor in the fulness of
his heart, but with a quaint sense of proportion, had placed
amongst the native products ! How these familiar objects,
so unmistakably European in appearance and contents,
had reached this distant village was a mystery we never
solved ; but in accordance with regulations prohibiting
officers receiving as " Dollies " anything except the produce
of the land, we returned them, much to the mortification
of the giver, who had doubtless hoped to have gained credit
for the munificence of his offering.

While still engaged in receiving these deputations, an
individual dressed in a kind of burlesque military uniform
arrived with a message from Burke's friend, the Rajah,
intimating " that his Highness being desirous of placing
himself at our feet, begged that of our great condescension
we would permit him to convey himself into our august
presence as speedily as might be." This, in plain English,
being a request for an interview, we sent back a suitable
reply to the effect " that nothing we could think of at the
moment could give us so much pleasure as a ' Mulakat,'
or meeting, with the Rajah Sahib, and that we were there-
fore prepared to receive his Highness at any time he might
deign to honour us with his presence."

Having delivered ourselves of this laboriously con-
cocted message in our best " higher-standard " Hindustani,
we told the messenger, in plainer language, to be sure to
ask his master to bring his elephants with him, hinting
that their presence would add much to the dignity of his
visit.

About an hour later, having meanwhile borrowed some
chairs and a drugget from the local school-house and pre-
pared our cabin for the reception, we heard the discordant

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

sound of tom-toms in the distance, accompanied by what
seemed to be the shrill notes of a bagpipe out of tune.
Presently a large crowd was seen approaching headed by
the man producing these weird sounds, and behind them
a huge gaily caparisoned elephant bearing a " charjama,"
a kind of sideless howdah, covered with crimson cloth,
and followed, to our delight, by three more fair-sized
animals.

Seated tailor-wise on the " charjama " was a huge
figure which on first appearance might have been mistaken
for the fractional portion of a rainbow, but subsequently
proved to be our royal visitor, clad in raiment of which
the prevailing hues were purple, green and yellow, and
surmounted by a cap heavily gold-braided. Bringing
up the rear of this procession was a band of about twenty
armed retainers dressed in cast-off British uniforms re-
presenting nearly every branch of the Service from the
horse-artillery jacket to the coats of the native infantry
of many years ago, with here and there a battered helmet,
worn, in some cases, hinder part before. Apart from the
" cortege " proper, yet forming a large part of it, was the
usual crowd of men, women, and children of all ages, all
shouting and gesticulating in approval of the proceedings
after the manner of their kind. Lastly, and more noisily
demonstrative than them all, were the ubiquitous village
mongrels, some howling to the accompaniment of the
music (?), whilst others took this opportunity of settling
their little differences with each other in the usual noisy
fashion peculiar to their species.

We stood awhile watching this quaint procession from
the bank before retiring to the cabin, where etiquette
required we should be seated in readiness to receive the
great man, and presently, through the window, witnessed
his arrival at the landing-place and the manner of his
descent from the huge animal he was riding.

It was one of the most comical sights I have ever seen,
and we had as much as we could do to keep our countenance
when, receiving our visitor some minutes later, we tried to
assume the grave demeanour necessary for the occasion.

The elephant being ordered to kneel, a ladder carried
by one of the attendants was placed against the edge of
148

THE RAJAH

the " charjama," and while two men steadied it below a
third mounted half-way up ; the figure we had seen now
uncoiled itself, and turning slowly on its perch, stuck out
two enormous legs which were promptly seized by the
attendant on the ladder, who placed the two feet carefully
on the topmost rung.

Being now in a favourable position to descend, the man
already on the ladder was assisted by another ; each laid hold
of one leg, and with others assisting from below the huge
jelly-bag-like carcase of the potentate was slowly, rung by
rung, brought safely to the ground. Blowing like a grampus
from the effects of this unwonted exercise the great man
stood still some moments, revealing his large proportions
and extraordinary attire, while we gazed at him in open-
mouthed amazement, as well we might, for never was man
so strangely shaped or clothed.

Built on a scale even the claimant would not rival,
he stood about five feet two inches in height with a form
as rotund in full and profile as it is possible for the human
frame to be, and arrayed, as I have said, in garments of
startling hue. His coat was of pea-green satin with stripes
of yellow and purple, worn over trousers of crimson silk
sprinkled with gold stars and fitting closely to the legs,
giving the impression of bolsters such as are sometimes seen
on an ottoman of Oriental design ; while on his head was a
cap, so profusely embroidered that it seemed to be entirely
made of gold. Such gorgeous apparel might possibly have
added dignity to a figure of ordinary build, but displayed
on the porpoise-like proportions of our visitor was ludi-
crous in the extreme, and more calculated to excite
ridicule than respect in the minds of Europeans.

149

CHAPTER XX

To those who have only seen the modern Indian Potentate
as he appears in the playing fields of Eton in his youth,
or as the finished article on the golf links or the moors,
the individual I have attempted to describe may seem to be
chimerical, or at best a caricature of the original ; but to
the Anglo-Indian the type will be familiar, for even to this
day in parts of India still off the beaten track his proto-
type may be met with in the persons of courtesy-titled
Rajahs, who though not officially recognized nor entitled
to the much- coveted salutes are nevertheless styled
Rajahs by their people, and treated with some deference
by the officials of the district. Of such class was the
individual we were now about to interview, and a very
fair specimen he was too of his kind ; for strange as it may
be it is none the less a fact that natives in this position
are generally obese, a condition due to the sensual, inactive
lives they lead.

The one we were concerned with was, perhaps, somewhat
above the average in obesity, and as we watched him
waddling across the slender plank connecting us with the
bank, we trembled to think what might be the conse-
quences should the frail fabric suddenly give way. How-
ever, he passed over in safety, and with a tread that shook
the boat from stem to stern walked up to the door, but
only to find his progress barred, for although the doorway
was nearly two feet wide he unfortunately was wider.
In vain he struggled to get through, but the sides of the
opening were formed of stout bamboos and, struggle as he
might, resisted all his efforts. He now tried to pass
through sideways, but like the old woman of the 'bus
story soon discovered this attitude gave him no advantage,
being unfortunately spherical in shape. Meanwhile, seated
in solemn state, we could only watch his struggles with
150

AN AMUSING INTRODUCTION

assumed indifference, for etiquette forbade us to notice his
discomfiture, hence we were compelled to feign ignorance
of its existence, though the fact was plainly visible in the
agonized expression of his fat, perspiring countenance.

" He will burst as sure as fate," I said in a whisper to
Burke, seriously thinking that such a calamity was possible,
for his balloon-like body was assuming perilously strange
shapes in his wild attempts to force it through an opening
obviously too small. At length, making a final effort,
assisted by a little pressure, more judicious than respectful
from his attendant behind, he came through like a huge
football, landing almost on his nose. Recovering himself,
however, by a dexterous movement of the body, little to be
expected from one so unwieldy in appearance, he walked
up to us smiling, seemingly in no way disconcerted but
with a self-satisfied air as if to be projected headlong
through a doorway was a fashionable method of entering
a room.

We rose to receive him, and looking as grave as was
possible under the circumstances shook hands and enquired
after his health, to which he replied in the usual Eastern
formula, that " thanks to our favourable influence, it was
good," which sentiment, seeing how near we had just been
to being the death of him, was not very appropriate. He
took the chair we offered him, after eyeing it suspiciously
as if doubtful whether once in he could get out of it in a
manner consistent with his dignity, an uncertainty evidently
born of his recent experience with the doorway, for we
noticed he was careful to sit on the extreme edge of it.

After the exchange of a few more complimentary
phrases we came to business, and were much gratified to
find that not only was he willing to place his elephants
at our disposal but that two of the animals were excellent
shikaris ; also that the tiger was undoubtedly in the jungle
and ought easily to be found. Before taking his leave he
promised everything should be in readiness early the next
morning, and suggested that in the meantime we should
transfer ourselves and our belongings to his " Budgerow,"
or house-boat, which was moored near us.

We were not slow to take advantage of his offer, and
moved over at once, to find ourselves in a vessel which,

151

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

compared with the one that we had left, might have been
likened to a yacht, so roomy, clean and comfortable did
she seem to us after our cramped and dingy quarters.
She had been recently repainted and done up, after being
submerged for some time during the hot season, as is often
done, not only to preserve the timbers but to clear a boat
of cockroaches and other insects, which, in spite of all
precautions, find their way on board, and cannot otherwise
be got rid of. The cabin, or deck-house, a solid wooden
structure, consisted of two good-sized apartments of which
the sides were all windows, each closeable at will with
either glass, Venetian, or mosquito-net framed slides,
thus affording absolute protection both from cold and heat
and also from all the flying insects with which we had been
so pestered the night before. In addition to these luxuries
there was what might be called the poop-deck overhead,
on which, seated in long cane chairs, we spent the remainder
of the day till summoned to dinner in the cabin. Here,
with all the windows open but guarded by the netting,
we ate our meal in comfort, fanned by the cool night
wind, a stray white ant here and there merely serving to
accentuate the luxury we now enjoyed as compared with the
discomfort we had endured.

The night passed without adventure, but unfortunately
the greater part of it also without sleep, for so terrified
were the villagers at the close proximity of the tiger that
from 9 p.m. till sunrise parties of them by turns kept
up a loud tom-tomming throughout the long dark hours,
hoping by this means to keep the beast away.

We were up and dressed shortly after dawn, and while
seated on the poop enjoying our early morning meal, the
elephants arrived, two of them, presumably the " shikaris,"
carrying " char jamas " in addition to their pads. Seated
on one of these wras a curious-looking individual dressed
in semi-European costume of which the most characteristic
feature was an enormous solah-topee, so completely
covering his face that we could not tell whether he was a
white man or of a hue more in keeping with the rest of
his attire ; but when he came nearer and, seeing us,
took off his hat and bowed, there was a something in the
air with which he did it that proclaimed his nationality
152

THE RAJAH'S MANAGER

at once as plainly as if he had been labelled. Hence
when a moment later he came on board and introduced
himself in broken English as Monsieur Le Croix, the Rajah's
manager, we had no difficulty in fixing him as a native
of Chandarnagar, that strangely isolated little French
colony situated within a few miles of Calcutta. He brought
us a message from the Rajah begging we would excuse
him from attending the shoot in person, " as he was feeling
somewhat painful within his body," which, considering
the rough treatment it had been lately subjected to, was
not surprising.

Meanwhile, having finished our " little breakfast,"
we mounted the elephants, Burke on the smaller of the two
" shikaris," while I clambered on to the other, a huge
beast standing nearly ten feet high, and with the little
Frenchman clinging on monkey-like behind me, we started
for the jungle.

We had formed no regular plan of attack, but learning
that the jungle was only about three-quarters of a mile in
length and surrounded on three sides with deep water, we
decided on beating through it in line till we put the tiger
up, and then to be guided by its movements. Accordingly,
crossing the narrow strip of water about half a mile from
the village we advanced slowly in extended order, Burke
and myself on either flank with the two pad-elephants
between us.

Our line being necessarily limited in length we could
not cover more than a hundred yards at a time, and as
the jungle, composed of trees and dense undergrowth,
was about four hundred in breadth, it took four drives to
beat completely. Almost immediately after we had entered
it the elephants began to show signs of uneasiness, rumbling
and trumpeting at intervals all the time, and continued
doing so to the end, but beyond a somewhat more decided
demonstration towards the close of the last drive there
was nothing to indicate the presence of any animal in the
jungle. To make quite sure, however, we repeated the
drives, but with no better success, then, as a last resource,
we resolved to beat along the edge of the cover only,
where we noticed the undergrowth was much denser and
the trees nearer together. In order to do this thoroughlv

153

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

we packed the line closer, reducing the intervals between
each animal to a little over its own length, and in this
formation, commencing where we had left off, proceeded
to circumambulate the island. This was a formidable
undertaking and would have probably occupied some hours,
the jungle being so dense ; however, we had hardly
accomplished a quarter of the task when my elephant,
which was on the edge nearest to the water, stopped
suddenly, and kicking at the ground with its fore feet,
refused to advance. At the same moment there was a
quick movement in the jungle immediately in front of us
as if some large animal, suddenly disturbed, was rapidly
making off, but whether it was the tiger or any other heavy
beast, such as a pig, I could not tell. The Mahouts
declared it was the former. The other elephants, having
also heard or scented the animal, had pulled up too, and
all four of them, already in a highly excitable condition,
now became thoroughly demoralized, resisting all the
efforts of their drivers to induce them to go on. However,
after much abusive language and a free use of their driving-
hooks, the Mahouts eventually gained the day, and in
spite of their noisy expostulations, expressed in loud
trumpeting and squeals, forced the animals to advance.
From this moment and for the next half-hour the situation
was sufficiently exciting to all concerned, for we were
following what we now knew to be the tiger, our progress
guided by the track that it had made, as we could see from
the twigs and slender branches still bending slowly back
into position, and expecting any moment to view the
beast itself or to be suddenly attacked.

Packed closely together, as if deriving courage from
contact with each other, the elephants advanced like a
living wall, rumbling and trumpeting all the time as they
trod down the obstructing jungle unwillingly with their feet,
while with their trunks they searched the air endeavouring
to locate their hidden foe. Proceeding thus cautiously,
following the windings of the track, we had covered perhaps
fifty yards when it suddenly came to an end close to a large
tree standing within a foot or two of the water, with one
huge branch, growing almost at right angles, extending
over it. This puzzled us considerablv, for it was scarcely
154

CLAW-MARKS ON A TREE

likely that an animal which had taken refuge from the
flood would voluntarily again take to the water ! Mean-
while, however, my Mahout, standing on the elephant's
neck, had been peering over the jungle, and presently I saw
him pointing to something on the bank below.

Thinking he had seen the tiger I stood up too, and
resting my hand upon his head looked over where upon
a strip of muddy beach were the foot-prints of the beast,
seemingly quite fresh, and leading close up to the water ;
but here the animal had turned and re-entered the jungle,
as was evident from the impressions continuing in this
direction. We concluded from this that the tiger was still
on the island, and were accordingly about to resume the
beat when Burke, who was nearest to the tree I have
mentioned, drew my attention to some scratches on the
trunk about four feet from the ground and apparently
made recently.

" They are the marks of a tiger's claw, I am sure ! "
he said excitedly; " and look, there are more ! " pointing
to some others, equally distinct, a good way lower down.

The Mahouts, too, seemed of the same opinion, though
differing somewhat as to how the marks came there, one
of them, a youth anxious to air his little knowledge,
suggesting they were made by the beast cleaning its claws
upon the bark. This seemed to incense an old grey-
beard seated on one of the pad-elephants. " WThat ? "
he exclaimed, turning to the speaker ; " have you such little
sense as to suppose that a tiger escaping from the elephants
would tarry on the way to polish up its toe-nails ? "

" Then how did those marks come there ? " asked the
other. The old man, who was evidently considered an
authority on such subjects, looked him contemptuously
up and down.

;' Well," he said, " there are some people who know
nothing ! Does not a tiger which is being pursued some-
times stand up and look back, and would it be possible
for it to do so without leaning up against a tree ? "

" True, true," chimed in the other two, " the " Burah-
Meah ' * is quite right. He is a cunning one is this tiger ;

* Old sage.

155

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

he looked and seeing the ' sahiblague ' with their guns has
now hidden himself away."

Meanwhile Burke and I, although not supposed to hear
this discussion which had been carried on in an undertone,
had, nevertheless been interested listeners all the time,
for often in this way one picks up information, scraps of
jungle lore and woodcraft, not easily obtainable by any
other means.

Unfortunately in tiger- shooting there are no precedents
sufficiently established as to determine what a tiger may
or may not do another time under exactly similar con-
ditions, and on this occasion as it happened our animal
had acted contrary to all known traditions as we were
presently to learn.

156

CHAPTER XXI

We had hitherto been standing in a group at some little
distance from the tree, but now thinking it advisable to
examine the marks more closely before proceeding with the
beat I ordered my Mahout to take the elephant up nearer.
The animal at first seemed reluctant to advance, backing
and shaking its massive head when urged to go on, then,
as if impelled by some sudden emotion, dashed furiously for-
ward, and crashing through the intervening jungle charged
right up to the tree. At the same moment apparently from
amongst its lower branches there rose a loud, appalling
roar, followed by a violent movement of the foliage, a
glimpse of yellow fur, and then with another terrific roar
the tiger, springing high into the air, landed about a yard
or two in front of us.

I fired at once, getting off both barrels, and evidently
with effect, as the beast rolled over and seemed badly hit,
which was fortunate as it was crouching for a spring
and might probably have seized the elephant by the trunk,
or worse still, sprung on to its head ; but in thinking
I had escaped these dangers I was much mistaken, for I
was now to experience one of those incidental perils to
which every sportsman hunting tigers off an elephant is
liable, and, as on this occasion, are often caused by the
very animal intended to protect him.

Ejecting the used cartridges, I had reloaded and was
about to fire again, when suddenly without any further
provocation, the elephant, screaming with rage, rushed
furiously at the tiger, and going down upon its knees tried
to gore it with its tusk. This very sudden change in its
position from the horizontal to the almost perpendicular
came perilously near to closing my career, for had not the
iron bar across the end of the " charjama " providentially

157

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

arrested my further progress, I must inevitably have
plunged head-foremost into the tiger's jaws.

My companion was less fortunate. Being considerably
lighter than myself, and somewhat spherical in build, he
came rolling down on top of me, and rebounding like a
football, fell headlong into the jungle, but fortunately
at some distance from the tiger.

Meanwhile the very danger I imagined we had avoided
was now staring us literally in the face, for the elephant
had failed in its attempt to kill the tiger, with the result
that the latter had seized it by the head and now clung
there, growling and biting savagely in turn within a few
feet of my face. But perilous as was my position, that of
the Mahout was infinitely greater. Seated a foot lower,
he was on the same level with the tiger, and barely twice
that distance from the huge gaping mouth which, with the
lips drawn back, displayed the formidable fangs, some of
them as thick as a man's thumb, and about three inches
in length. It was indeed a desperate situation for the man,
and one that might well have paralyzed his senses for the
time; but, as sometimes happens in such cases, the very
imminence of the danger he was in stirred him into action.

With the instinct of self-preservation, he seemed to
realize at once that something must be done. Grasping his
heavy driving-hook firmly with both hands, he bent his
body forward till within striking distance, then, swinging
the murderous instrument aloft, brought it point down-
wards on to the tiger's skull. The first blow or two,
crushing though they were, seemed merely to stimulate
the fury of the beast as now, roaring with rage and pain
combined, it made frantic efforts to get at its assailant ;
the latter, nothing daunted, continued his attack, and
aided by the violent movements of the elephant finally
succeeded in dislodging the vicious brute. The elephant,
relieved of its unwelcome burden, seemed disinclined to
renew the struggle, and backing a pace or two, stood
trembling with excitement, while the tiger, evidently as
unwilling to carry on the combat, went back into cover
before I had time to fire again.

Such was the position of affairs when Burke, who had
been vainly trying to come to my assistance during the
158

A HUNT IN THE JUNGLE

progress of the contest, now arrived upon the scene, with
the other two elephants following unwillingly behind him.

44 Have you seen the Frenchman ? " I asked, anxiously,
for now that my mind was free to think of the matter I
realized with horror his perilous position should he, if
still wandering in the jungle, suddenly come upon the
wounded beast. Happily Burke's reply relieved my
apprehensions.

44 Seen the Frenchman ? " he exclaimed excitedly.
44 1 rather think I have, considering I very nearly shot him
about ten minutes ago ! He ran past me, crashing through
the jungle, and thinking he was the tiger I was just about
to fire when I caught a glimpse of his clothing ; however,
he is all right now, for I saw him soon after climbing on to
a tree."

He had hardly finished speaking when there was a
violent commotion in the jungle into which the wounded
beast had crawled, and forcing our elephants through it
we were just in time to witness its dying struggles, which
Burke quickly put an end to with a merciful bullet through
the head.

44 There, at last I can say I have shot a tiger, though it
was only a half-dead one," he exclaimed, laughing as he
brought his rifle down, but I could see that while affecting
to treat the matter as a joke, he was in reality much pleased
at his exploit, as was only natural considering how often he
had been out without so much as seeing a tiger, much less
getting a shot !

44 Yes, and you might add you got it with one shot,"
I replied in the same vein as, moving the elephants up closer
we looked down at the beast lying all in a heap and evidently
as dead as the proverbial door-nail !

Our natural inclination was to get off and measure our
prize at once, but politeness required that we should first
rescue our officiating host from his uncomfortable position ;
so, resisting the temptation, we proceeded in search of him.
But we soon found that to identify one particular tree out
of the hundreds in a jungle is no easy matter, especially
when that jungle happens to be well over one's head;
however, by shouting at intervals, we finally elicited a
reply, and making in this direction eventually came upon

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

the tree with our friend perched on its topmost branches,
a picture of terror-stricken manhood. From his position
it was evident, too, that this terror, if it had not actually
lent him wings, had at any rate temporarily bestowed on
him the skill and energy of the quadrumana, for not
otherwise could he possibly have attained the dizzy
eminence he had reached. His face and clothing too bore
evidence of the haste with which he had fled incontinently
through the jungle, for the first was scratched and bleeding,
while the latter, torn to ribbons, would have graced a rag-
man's bag. Moreover, in making his involuntary descent
from the elephant he had seemingly landed on his head,
or rather the crown of his " solah-topee," and had manifestly
gone through it, for of that late conspicuous portion of his
attire there was nothing now remaining but the brim,
reposing gracefully round his neck after the manner of an
Elizabethan ruff. He seemed still under the impression
there was danger down below, and declined at first to quit
his aerial refuge ; at length, being satisfied that the tiger
was really dead, he proceeded to descend, a process we
watched with considerable misgivings, for it was no easy
task. However, he accomplished it in safety, and on our
way back to pick up the tiger had sufficiently recovered
from his fright to tell us the story of his adventure in his
quaint, would-be-colloquial English.

" Ah, mafoie, Messieurs," he began, " I have what you
call had narrow squeak of life. When I came from falling,
I felt nothing for some moments, then to myself I said,
the tiger if he gets smell will go for me. So I raised myself,
and ran off like one shot, as if the devil he was after me,
and then I come to that big tree, and again to myself I
said : * Behold, my boy ! This is your chance, if you can
get on top the beast cannot there arrive,' so I shinned
myself up till I can go no more, and voila, I am here with
whole skin and bone."

This graphic, if not very grammatical description of
his escapade, related with many a gesticulation and much
shrugging of the shoulders, amused us greatly, but not to
hurt the little man's feelings we listened with becoming
gravity, and when he concluded complimented him on
the courage (!) and address he had displayed ! However,
160

THE FRENCHMAN'S ADVENTURES

he seemed quite proud of his exploit, and later when we
were examining the dead tiger, one might have supposed
from the interest he took in the proceedings, and his
remarks, that he had played the most important part in
accomplishing its destruction. It proved to be a good-sized
beast, about nine feet four inches in length, but, like the
leopard we had shot the previous day, in miserable con-
dition, which no doubt accounted in a manner for its
un-tigerlike behaviour in attacking us before it was
wounded. True, with the water on one side of it and the
elephant on the other, the beast had been, so to speak,
somewhat cornered; but even then, for a tiger to charge
practically unprovoked was a very exceptional occurrence
unless in the case of a tigress with cubs. But, as already
hinted, this particular animal was evidently a law unto
itself, as further proved by the fact of its having climbed
into the tree, a performance probably without precedent
in the annals and traditions of tigers and their habits.
However, there is this to be said about it, that the tree in
question was on a lower level than the rest of the jungle,
and, owing to the action of the water on the roots, consider-
ably out of the perpendicular, thus presenting an inclined
plane comparatively easy of ascent.

What had probably happened then, was this : the tiger
which had already been hustled up and down the island for
some time now, finding itself hard pressed with no other
chance of escaping, had run up the sloping trunk and on
to the huge branch extending horizontally over the water,
thinking to conceal itself within the dense foliage till we
had passed. The device would probably have succeeded
but for the superior cunning of the elephant in discovering
the retreat, for it had not occurred to any of us to suppose
that a tiger would seek refuge in the branches of a tree !
However, be this as it might, we had now actually witnessed
this phenomenon, thus adding another item to my list
of out-of-the-way incidents which I seemed destined to
experience in these wilds. The " padding " of the tiger on
to one of the pad-elephants proved no easy task, and but
for the animal being lean, hence comparatively light, we
should have been obliged to skin the carcase where it lay.
There was much rejoicing in the village when we appeared,

M 161

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

and as we marched triumphantly through it with the body
of the tiger showing conspicuously across the rearmost
elephant, the villagers joined in the procession, yelling with
delight and calling down blessings on our heads for having
rid them of the pest.

The Frenchman dined with us that night, after being
re-clothed from head to foot in a suit borrowed from Burke,
several sizes too big for him, and later in the night, under
the influence of Bass's ale, followed by sundry brandies and
soda, became exceedingly communicative, not to say
confidential. It seemed that his grandfather, on the
father's side we presumed, had come out to India on board
a French ship as cook, and had finally married and settled
down at Chandarnagar, where his father had been born,
and in due course of time had drifted into British territory,
where he had found employment under a Rajah. He also,
presumably, had married, or had entered into some
kindred relationship, resulting in the appearance of our
guest, whose information regarding this portion of his
parentage seemed somewhat vague, at any rate he bore his
father's name and was, as he expressed it, " Frenchman
to the end of nails." He had never visited " La Belle
France," nor its gay capital, but, as with the similarly bred
soi-disant Englishmen, spoke of both as if he had. His
career had evidently been a chequered one, for he seemed
to be familiar with every large city in Bengal, but now, as
he said, he was permanently installed as manager, secretary
and factotum to his Highness the Rajah of Bungown,
where he hoped to end his days !

It was past midnight when he left, having, as he had
kept telling us at intervals, " enjoyed himself immensely,"
a fact sufficiently obvious from his speech and the difficulty
with which he maintained his equilibrium as he stood up,
each time he made these little speeches, with a solemnity
of expression ludicrously in contrast with his condition.
He insisted, before leaving, on resuming his own attire
till he came to the solah-topee, which seemed to puzzle his
fuddled senses for a while, then, as if suddenly realizing
that the seemingly incomplete appearance of the hat might
be an hallucination, due to his own perverted senses,
solemnly put it on, and with the self-satisfied air of one not
162

POLITE TO THE END!

to be put out with any such imaginary difficulties, pro-
ceeded to mount his elephant. But by the light of a
lantern held by an attendant seated behind, we could
see him making futile efforts to raise his hat in a parting
salutation till the elephant went out of sight.

" A real case of in vino Veritas" quoted Burke, laughing,
as we walked back to the boat, and appropriately enough,
for in our friend's present condition no one but a Frenchman
would have thought of taking off his hat, or rather what
remained of it.

This was the last we saw of our strange acquaintance,
for we left early the next morning, while he was still
probably in bed, sleeping off the effects of the hilarious
evening he had passed.

Our journey back occupied three long, weary days, for
it was now up-stream all the way, and our progress conse-
quently no faster than the crew could walk, towing the
boat behind them as a horse in England tows a river barge.
However, thanks to the Rajah's kindness, in lending us his
boat, we travelled in much comfort, but on our arrival at
the station I found an important report awaiting me
which necessitated my visiting a village situated in the
southern extremity of the district, where a disturbance was
said to be impending, and which if not checked at once
might lead to a serious riot and probable loss of life ; thus
the matter was too important to admit of any delay in
proceeding to the spot. Fortunately the distance was only
thirty miles, so sending out ponies and camp equipage at
once, I decided to start at daybreak the next day with
Burke, who, having nothing particular on hand, volun-
teered to accompany me, but ever on the look-out for
something to shoot had stipulated beforehand to send our
guns and rifles with our traps.

163

CHAPTER XXII

The village in question was one of the largest in the dis-
trict, possessed of a police-station, post-office and a dis-
pensary as well. Proceeding on arrival to the scene of
the disturbance we found the contending factions both
assembled near a field of ripe corn, the reaping of which
was the subject of dispute. Both parties were armed with
various lethal weapons, and but for the presence of the
sub-inspector and small body of police would possibly
ere this have come to blows, indeed would probably soon
have done so in spite of the police but for our unexpected
appearance on the scene. But no sooner had they learned
that I was the " Police Sahib " come to enquire into the
matter, than, abandoning their hostile attitude for the
moment, the leaders of each party all came crowding round
me, urging their respective claims, though apparently
quite willing to abide by my decision. However, the
matter being one which could only be decided in the Law
Courts, I ordered the sub-inspector to arrange for guarding
the crop pending the order of the Court and advised both
parties to go there at once, warning the leaders that
any disturbance in the meantime would lead to their
arrest.

These orders were received with sullen silence, and for
a time it seemed as if hostilities would begin; but this
threat, coupled with the hint of a special force of police
being, if deemed necessary, quartered in the village,
finally produced the effect I had anticipated, for presently,
after consulting amongst themselves, both parties agreed to
my proposal and about an hour later I had the satisfaction
of seeing a deputation from each side start for headquarters.
Meanwhile, lest there should be any recurrence of the
disturbance, I decided to remain here for a day or two,
164

u •

A FRESH EXCITEMENT

putting up at the Rest House, a small thatched-roof bunga-
low, pleasantly situated on a plain just outside the
village.

When that well-known ex-Indian-civil ian poet in his
happily conceived description, referred to India as " The
land of Regrets," he might as truthfully have added that
it was also a land of continual surprises, for events seem
certainly to succeed each other there with marvellous
rapidity, though sometimes with a suddenness more start-
ling than agreeable. Still, after the excitement we had
just experienced, we hardly expected to be provided with
another quite so soon.

Nevertheless, a couple of hours later, while resting
after our day's exertions, trying to snatch an hour's sleep,
we were suddenly aroused by a sound as of several horses
galloping towards the bungalow, and running on to the
verandah beheld a herd of buffalo which with their hideous
heads uplifted went lumbering past us at a gallop, a pace
so unusual in these generally stolid animals that we guessed
something was amiss. Following closely on their heels
were three small urchins, obviously their guardians, the
scared expression on their faces indicating the terror they
were in, shouting and brandishing their sticks as they
urged their unwieldy charges on. We called to them,
enquiring what had happened, but these puny herdsmen,
ordinarily so fearless as a class, seemed now fairly panic-
stricken and unable to express themselves in words, merely
pointed behind as they continued their headlong flight
which soon took them out of hearing.

We stood watching for a while waiting to see whether
any animal was following in pursuit, having in the mean-
time fetched out our rifles, but nothing came, nor so far
as we could see across the plain was there any beast
in sight that would account for the stampede we had
witnessed.

Presently, however, we observed a small object in the
distance which seemed to be moving and apparently
coming towards us. The old bungalow chokidar who,
despite the handicap of years, was still evidently as keen-
eyed as a hawk, pronounced it to be a human being. " It
is one of the village boys, I think," he said, " and yet it

165

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

can't be," he continued musingly, " for he walks more
like an old man."

However, as the object approached nearer, a closer
examination revealed the face and figure of a boy, from
ten to twelve years old but strangely decrepit in appear-
ance and evidently walking with much difficulty. Seeing
this, we were hurrying to his assistance when he suddenly
collapsed and fell heavily to the ground. He had fainted
when we reached him, and no wonder, for we found his
only garment, a loin cloth round the waist, saturated
with blood, still flowing from a deep gash in his thigh,
extending down to the bone, apparently caused by some
sharp instrument or the tusk of a wild boar. He recovered
consciousness after a time, and while we were attempting
to staunch the bleeding told us how as he and his three
companions were watching their herd of buffalo, a wild
boar had suddenly come out of the jungle and attacked
them and how he had tried to escape with the others but
being younger could not run as fast, hence had been caught
by the beast and knocked down ; what happened after
this he couldn't say, but after a time finding himself alone
he had got up and followed the others.

Such was the substance of his story, told in short dis-
jointed sentences between intervals of agonizing pain borne
with extraordinary fortitude for one so young in years.
We bandaged up the wound as well as we were able and
sending the chokidar off to warn the native doctor. Burke
and myself carrying the lad in turn took him to the
hospital where we found his parents.

Having seen that the patient was being properly
attended to, we went on to the village to which the buffaloes
belonged, where we found the people in a state of wild
excitement, hurriedly organizing one of their periodical
hunting expeditions, which, although not due for some days,
was, in view of the recent outrage, to take place that day.

But here it is perhaps necessary to explain that amongst
the inhabitants of the jungle villages, in common with
others inhabited by descendants from the aboriginal races
of Bengal, it has long been the custom, indeed, practically
a part of their religion, to hold a kind of hunting festival
once or twice a year, when every man and boy turns out
1GG

A VILLAGE HUNTING EXPEDITION

armed with various weapons, from a rusty flint-lock
musket to bows and arrows or only a stick, and forming
into line often half a mile in length, to beat through the
neighbouring jungles, driving the animals before them and
killing as many as they can or, as sometimes happens,
having one or more of their own number killed should a
tiger, boar, or leopard be encountered in the drive. The
particular village we are concerned with, however, having
always been a large buffalo-herding centre, it had occurred
to some ingenious sporting individual in the past to utilize
the animals in these hunting festivals, and many years
of training had therefore produced, so to speak, a special
herd of buffalo, with hereditary hunting instincts that had
gradually come to be employed much in the same way as
elephants are used in tiger-shooting, both as beaters and
to ride on, though in the last capacity only when hunting
the wild boar.

In the present expedition, four of these trained animals
were to be employed, and their riders, four stalwart,
athletic young herdsmen, were already busy preparing
themselves and their animals for the fray; the latter, too,
were formidable- looking beasts and evidently as truculent
as they looked, judging from the caution with which the
men approached them. Finally we interviewed the head
man of the village, and telling him we wished to witness
the hunt he seemed quite pleased, suggesting that the best
way of doing so would be for us to accompany the beaters
on two elephants which he could procure as we should then
not only see the whole performance but be of some pro-
tection to the men employed in the beat.

As the hunting party was about to set out shortly
we hurriedly made our preparation, and after talking
the matter over we decided, in view of the large crowd
likely to be present, to confine ourselves to watching the
proceedings but, as it was advisable that we should be
armed in case any of the beaters were attacked, to take
our rifles with us and use them should the necessity
arise.

While discussing these possible eventualities the
elephants were announced, equipped with pads, howdahs
being neither available nor necessary for the present

167

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

expedition, and an hour later we arrived at the jungle to
find the hunt just about to commence.

The crowd was enormous, all the neighbouring villages
having contributed their quota of beaters and spectators ;
amongst the latter many women and young children,
brown tadpole-shaped urchins, most of them as nude as
the day they first saw light, while others, more particular,
wore a string round their middle, supporting a rusty key.
Standing apart from the others and now armed with long
spears were the four buffalo-riders, each holding his animal
by a cord which, run through the nostrils of his steed,
served the purposes of reins and bit combined, also furnish-
ing a support for the rider, as will presently be seen.

We had not been many minutes at the rendezvous when
there was a sudden stir amongst the multitude as each
party of beaters, led by their respective shikaris, went off
to take up their position on the far side of the jungle
whence the beat was to be made. This was also the signal
for the spectators to retire from the arena and seek some
safer spot from which to witness the proceedings, and soon
all non-effectives, viz. the old and infirm, including all
women and younger children, were scattered across the
plain, some posted on trees and others on the numerous
ant-hills with which the plain was studded.

Presently the space fronting the jungle was cleared of
all but the four hunters, who now mounted their strange
chargers, but instead of sitting astride them stood up upon
their backs and with their feet planted firmly in the hollow
above the animal's hips and balancing themselves by the
cord which served as reins, seemed to be as completely at
their ease as if standing on the ground. This attitude,
though peculiar, was obviously the best suited for their
purpose, as besides affording a better view it would enable
them to use their spears with more effect and also prevent
the boar, should it charge home, from ripping the rider's
legs, a danger always present even when pig-sticking on
horseback. Managing their steeds with marvellous dex-
terity, these strangely mounted sportsmen, after a few trial
movements to test their control over their beasts, ranged
themselves at intervals in a line facing the jungle and about
thirty yards from the edge.
1G8

PIG-STICKING EXTRAORDINARY

All the arrangements being completed, we now followed
the beaters to the jungle where we found them drawn up
in crescent-shaped formation, embracing the whole length
of the cover so that, as the line advanced, no animal within
could break out at the sides. The beaters, who must have
numbered quite four hundred, were a strangely constituted
crowd, men and youths of all ages from hoary-headed,
toothless veterans to boys of ten and twelve, most of them
armed with diverse implements of destruction, including
battle-axes of primeval pattern, while others, trusting more
to noise than lethal weapon, carried the inevitable " tom-
toms " or " Nakras," the last a kind of kettle-drum,
emitting when struck most awe-inspiring sounds.

The men being evidently impatient to begin, we took
up our position in the line, one of us on each flank, and no
sooner were we posted than from the serried ranks of
beaters there rose a deafening roar, invoking the goddess
Kali to bless their undertaking. The next moment, with
the drums and " tom-toms " sounding the advance, the
line was set in motion.

The jungle was not a very large one and, being com-
posed entirely of grass, it did not take us long to beat ; but
in spite of the shouting of the men and the incessant,
maddening rat-a-tat of the drums and " tom-toms," the
advanced horns of the line had nearly reached the end of
the cover before we discovered any signs of the pig. Never-
theless, from the behaviour of the elephants, we knew they
must be in the jungle, and that, after the manner of their
kind, they had been probably advancing silently in front
of the beaters all the time ; and so it proved, for presently
as the chest of the line approached the open, two huge
black boars, followed by some half a dozen sows, dashed
out on to the plain immediately in front of the hunters.
The sows, unwilling to face the formidable-looking phalanx,
swerved sharply to one side and, galloping across the right
front of the line, made off to a distant jungle, but not so
the two boars which, with the dogged courage characteristic
of these beasts, had apparently made up their minds to
fight, seeming only to be in doubt as to whether they
should attack the buffalo or the beaters.

While still apparently considering the question they

169

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

stood there for a time, a picture of savage fury and
literally foaming with rage as they champed their mas-
sive jaws, exposing to view their formidable tusks, sharp
as a razor's edge, then suddenly, each seeming to select
an opponent, they charged furiously down upon the
buffalo.

The two attacked showed no inclination to avoid the
charge. On the contrary moving forward to meet it as if of
their own accord, they lowered their heads to receive the
attack. A cloud of dust partially obstructed my vision
for the moment, but the next instant I heard a crash and
one of the boars turned a somersault in the air whence
it presently descended with a thud. One of the hunters,
too, I noticed, had now dismounted from his steed and, as
the heavy body came hurtling to the ground, he plunged
his spear into it again and again, continuing the operation
till life seemed quite extinct. The other rider, however,
had evidently not come off so well, for although still
mounted he was covered with dust, and had seemingly
lost his spear, while his charger displayed a huge gash
in its side from which the blood was pouring out in
torrents.

But before I had time to realize what had happened,
much less to enquire, two shots rang out in quick succession,
and looking round I saw the other boar lying kicking on the
ground, and a yard or two beyond it a group of terror-
stricken women, clinging to each other and calling out that
they were killed. The rest of the spectators and the
beaters who had now come out of the jungle were standing
at a respectful distance round the struggling pig, all jabber-
ing and gesticulating, as is the way with natives, but none,
though some were armed with guns and spears, thinking
to put the poor beast out of pain. Seeing this, the old
chokidar sitting behind me who, whether by nature or
long contact with Europeans, seemed, for a native, singu-
larly humane, slid down the elephant's tail and pushing
through the crowd snatched a sword from a gaping rustic
and, regardless of all danger to himself, stabbed the suffer-
ing animal through the heart.

The people, now satisfied that both the boars were dead,
order was presently to some extent restored, and we were
170

FIGHTING FOR FLESH

able, by questioning the two hunters, to ascertain what
had actually occurred. It seemed that the boar first
killed had, as it charged, been received by the buffalo on
its horns, and being tossed, as I had seen, was finally dis-
posed of in the manner I have described. The second
beast, however, had swerved as it got home and thus
avoided the horns of its opponent, but quickly closing in
again had gored it as it passed. The buffalo, maddened
with the pain of the wound, turned round to attack its
assailant, and with the suddenness of the movement, the
rider, losing his balance and his spear, fell off, but retaining
hold of the cord quickly scrambled on again. Neverthe-
less but for Burke's prompt and accurate shooting the
boar would probably have turned and killed him during
the few moments he lay helpless on the ground.

While the two hunters were relating their experiences
the crowd had not been idle, but under the directions of
their respective head-men had cut up the two carcases into
as many portions as there were villages concerned, and
with the exception of the heads, which our old man had
claimed on our behalf, were now fighting amongst them-
selves as to which should have the choicest morsels.
Swarming like vultures round some carrion, the people,
hitherto seemingly so stolid and apathetic, were now, as
it were, suddenly transformed into ravening beasts of prey,
snarling at one another with all the savage instincts of a
pack of starving wolves, as the stronger, pushing the weaker
ones aside, pressed forward to seize the reeking joints; and
yet these people were not starving, probably not even
hungry, for a better nourished, more prosperous-looking
crowd it would have been difficult to find. What then had
produced this extraordinary craving to possess the meat,
more especially as the people were all by caste Hindus, and
thus practically vegetarians ? However, the explanation
of this seeming paradox proved to be quite simple, for it
appeared that with the sect of Hindus to whom these
villagers belonged, the flesh of all domestic animals was
prohibited as food, hence it was only on such rare occasions
as the slaughter of some denizen of the jungles that they
were permitted to indulge their taste for meat. For al-
though, like most natives of India, strict in their observance

171

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

of the ordinances of caste, they were not, willingly, ab-
stainers ; on the contrary, in common with all primitive
races, were carnivorous by nature, and it was pro-
bably this craving for flesh diet that had initiated the
periodical hunting festivals, of which mention has been
made.

172

CHAPTER XXIII

The incident whiled away what would otherwise have proved
a weary afternoon, for in an Indian village there is little
for an European to do once he has accomplished the object
of his visit, as we found the next day while patiently
awaiting the return of the deputation. To make matters
worse, Burke, whose energy seemed absolutely untiring,
roused me at daybreak to hunt up a leopard said to
inhabit a jungle close at hand, by way, as he explained, of
shortening the day ! Unfortunately the animal existed
only in the imagination of his informant, hence after a
fruitless search through acres of dew-laden tiger-grass we
returned to the bungalow, wet to the skin, a couple of
hours earlier than we should otherwise have been awake.
Next morning I interviewed the deputation, which had
returned during the night, and finding the parties had
now agreed to await the decision of the Court there was
no longer any necessity for my remaining at the village ;
so, after administering another warning to the people, we
returned to the station.

One of the supposed drawbacks to life in the Indian
police is the liability to sudden transfer from one district
to another, and from the married officer's point of view,
such frequent changes of domicile are doubtless most
inconvenient. But to the bachelor, with nothing but himself
and his few belongings to transport, such constant flittings,
though possibly detrimental to police administration, are
often hailed with joy if only as a break in the dull monotony
of ordinary station life.

Such at any rate were my feelings when at the end of
three years' continual residence in the district I saw
myself one day in the Gazette transferred to Jalpaigori,
a wild and somewhat out-of-the-way district bordering on
Bhutan and considered a paradise from the sportsman's

173

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

point of view. The next day I received my formal orders
and within a week had made all my preparations for
departure, which included the disposal of my furniture,
etc., by the quaint, but old-established Indian method of
sending a price-list round the station. Of the many
curious Anglo-Indian customs that strike the young civil
or military officer on first arrival in the country, this
probably appears to him the strangest of them all, since,
to all intents and purposes, the individual sending round the
list is for the time being in the position of a tradesman
advertising his wares. For in all cases, whenever an officer
is either retiring, proceeding on transfer, or on leave, he
prepares a list of all he wishes to dispose of, pricing each
article according to what he considers to be its value,
and sends the list round to every European in the station,
irrespective of rank or status. Nevertheless the custom is
an excellent one, convenient to seller and purchaser alike,
for on the one hand the carriage of heavy furniture in
India is prohibitively expensive, while on the other it
affords an opportunity of purchasing, and often at half
their real value, articles actually necessary for ordinary
use not to be otherwise procured.

In my case, however, not having set myself up very
extravagantly, the list was but a small one and its contents
easily disposed of ; so with my sole remaining possessions,
consisting of my horse, a gun and rifle, three large port-
manteaux, a roll of bedding, and my dog, I was soon ready
to start.

There was a farewell dinner given by the District
Magistrate, who together with my friends Benson and
Burke, being all three keen sportsmen, were wild with envy
at my good fortune, and each made me promise to give
him a week's shooting as soon as I was settled and they
could obtain the necessary leave. I left that night by
" Palki-Dak," a most convenient, albeit somewhat un-
pleasant mode of travel which has been described in a
previous chapter, but rendered necessary on this occasion
by the station of Purneah being then off the line of rail.

The journey was not a formidable one as to distance,
but difficult at that season of the year owing to the numerous
rivers all more or less in flood, and, except on the more
174

JOURNEY TO JALPAIGORI

important ones, furnished with ferry-boats of very primitive
description.

We crossed several of these rivers during the night,
happily without accident, and at sunrise, having dropped
off to sleep an hour or two before, I was awakened by a
sudden cessation of movement to find the Palki deposited
on the ground with the bearers standing round it, clamouring
for " backsheesh ! " It seemed they had arrived at the
end of their stage, where a fresh set were now waiting to
take me on. Getting out of the Palki I found we had just
crossed the large river near the eastern boundary of
Purneah and were now in the Jalpaigori district, though
still some thirty miles distant from the station.

From the constable in charge of the new bearers I
learnt that they were to take me about twenty miles
further on, where a couple of elephants were waiting to
vary the monotony of journeying the whole way in a
Palki.

Making a hurried meal off some hard-boiled eggs I had
brought with me and milk procured from the adjoining
village I started off again, walking the first few miles
till the rapidly increasing heat compelled me to seek
refuge in the Palki, only to find that as the sun gained power
the atmosphere within was almost as intolerable. Fortu-
nately, however, a passing shower of rain lasting for some
minutes cooled the air a little, and freshening up the almost
exhausted bearers we made more rapid progress and
finally reached the end of their stage. Here we found the
elephants, one a small " Sowari," or riding elephant carry-
ing a light comfortable-looking char jama for myself, and
the other, the ordinary pad, across which the Mahouts soon
slung my belongings made into two packages of equal size
and weight.

My servant, who had so far accompanied me on a pony,
occupied the vacant space between the luggage next to
the Mahout, and with the constable behind facing the
opposite way, and the dog between the two, the loading
of the elephant was complete. Meanwhile, taking this
opportunity of satisfying my thirst and hunger, so far as
was possible with a warm brandy and soda and two
exceedingly dry biscuits, all that were left, I mounted the

175

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

little " Makhna," or tuskless male elephant, and with my
gun conveniently to hand started on my way.

I had noticed while in the Palki that after we had
come some ten miles from the river the country was
gradually assuming a much wilder appearance, and we had
passed through several patches of jungle increasing in
size and density as we approached nearer to the forest ;
so far, however, there had been villages and cultivation
between. Our way now lay through comparatively open
country studded here and there with villages inhabited
by a semi-civilized race of people, owning enormous herds
of buffalo which in appearance and bearing seemed as
uncivilized as themselves, and as a fact were only partially
domesticated. It was curious to see groups of these huge
truculent- looking animals grazing round the villages
seemingly at large, but stranger still to find as we came
nearer each lot in charge of a nude urchin who, seated
astride one of these monsters, seemed as completely at his
ease as if minding a brood of harmless ducklings, guiding
the animal with a stick in and out amongst the others,
all of whom apparently were as subservient to his will.
This seemingly incomprehensible phenomenon was not,
however, due as might have been imagined to any supposed
superiority of the human race over the brute creation,
but more probably to the fact that these animals being
generally tended during their calf-hood by the children
of the family gradually became accustomed to obeying
them.

As we proceeded the villages assumed a more civilized
appearance, the rudely-constructed, roughly thatched huts
giving place to more neatly built dwellings with here and
there one of sun-dried bricks and roof of tin, marking the
residence of some local magnate, more wealthy than his
neighbours. These villages, too, were larger and more
densely populated, but obviously by people of a class
quite different to those we had met nearer the borders of
the district — descendants, doubtless, of some alien race
which had squatted here some centuries before and still
retained the language and habits of their lineage. Passing
through several of these villages we finally arrived at the
outskirts of Jalpaigori, and traversing the bazaar and
176

DESCRIPTION OF JALPAIGORI

native quarters, emerged on to a small river on the banks
of which were built the residences of the European com-
munity, constituting the " station."

Proceeding direct to the bungalow occupied by the
officer I was to succeed, I found him anxiously awaiting
my arrival, and there, according to the unwritten rules
of Indian hospitality, I was duly received as his guest.

The next morning, however, on my assuming charge
of his office the position was reversed, for in addition to
the assumption of his duties I also took over the bungalow
and all that it contained in the way of furniture, etc.,
that he had not already disposed of, and for the next day
or two, while making his final preparations for departure,
my host remained on as my guest.

Such rapid exchanges of hospitalities between men of
the same service are, however, but part of the amenities of
socio-official life in India, where hotels, except in the big
cities, are unknown, and " Dak Bungalows," or Rest
Houses, seldom resorted to by officials under the circum-
stances referred to.

My predecessor had been over three years in the dis-
trict and was thus able to give me much useful information,
amongst other matters that serious crime, in the sense
that I had been accustomed to, was rare, and dacoity,
that bug-bear of Indian police-officers, practically unknown.
This news was satisfactory but not altogether unexpected,
for I had already discussed this subject before leaving my
last district with one of my inspectors who had once been
stationed here. A few days before I started I had sent
for this old officer and held a conversation with him which
is perhaps worth recording if only to show the views held
by an educated native on the effects of general education
on the masses. I told him I had been transferred to
Jalpaigori, and hearing that he had once been stationed
there, wished to know something about the district, and
whether I should find the work any lighter there.

" The district is very wild one, your Worship, but his
Honour will have much ease there for it is backward place,
and the peoples not being in advanced education state there
is not much work for police, but of hunting there is plenty
no doubt, especially roval tiger."

N 177

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

Puzzled at this somewhat cryptic reply I questioned
him again.

" But why should all this affect the work of the police ?
There are men who commit dacoity, burglary and other
crimes there like in any other district, I suppose ? "

" No, your Worship, there is no such important crimes,
for the people are yet like barbarian rustic, and cannot
read and write, but," he added naively, " when there are
more schools they will become intelligent no doubt, and
make organization of criminal nature like in more ad-
vanced districts."

" Oh, I see ; the people are not clever enough as yet,
you mean, for the organization of criminal enterprises,"
I observed with becoming gravity, though much amused
the while at this novel method of estimating the progress
of education.

However, quaint as were his views as to the cause, he
was, nevertheless, correct as to his facts as now confirmed
by my predecessor and subsequently from examination
of the records, for I found that with the exception of
murders, mostly from motives of jealousy or revenge, and
riots arising out of land disputes, the district was wonder-
fully free from crime.

In many other respects, too, it was as I found later,
quite different to an ordinary Bengal district, everything
about it seeming to savour of the jungles, even to the clerks
and other official under-strappers, whom I had been accus-
tomed to see white robed and clean shaven, were here
bearded and clothed in strange garments of local cloth
and make. The buildings, too, including the public offices,
were of peculiar construction and well in keeping with the
place, being all built on piles with bamboo matting walls
and boarded flooring, comfortable enough during the hot
and rainy seasons, but cold and draughty in the winter.
The station was quite a small one, consisting of but four
Europeans besides myself, to wit, the District Magistrate,
here styled a Deputy Commissioner, a Civil Surgeon, the
Deputy Conservator of Forests, and a District Engineer —
all bachelors except the first, and he was what is termed
in India a grass-widower, his wife being in England at the
time. Fortunately, three out of the four were men with
178

A SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE

tastes similar to my own, all keen sportsmen, and none
of us being overburdened with the duties of our respective
offices we could generally devote the afternoon to tennis
and polo, or partridge- shooting in the smaller scrub jungles
round the station where, during the season, partridges
were to be found in numbers, with occasionally a leopard
as a pleasing variation. For I soon discovered that the
accounts I had heard of this district — as being a sportsman's
paradise — had not been overrated, for hardly a week passed
without one or two informations coming in of " kills,"
usually ascribed to a tiger, but more often proving to be
the work of a leopard.

Occasionally these " khubburs," to use the Indian
sporting term, were vague and unreliable, but we seldom
let one pass unnoticed, one or more of us generally going
out on the chance, for here, unlike in other districts, we
had elephants always at our command, a most invaluable
asset as can easily be imagined, and the possession of which
added much to our enjoyment,

179

CHAPTER XXIV

I had not been many weeks in the district when one night,
while seated at dinner with the District Magistrate, an
urgent report, brought by a constable from one of my
most out-lying outposts, was handed to me by the orderly
on duty. The report, technically styled a " First Informa-
tion Report of Crime," was in Bengali, but accompanying
it was another in English from the sub-inspector to the
effect that a native tea-planter of an isolated tea-garden
situated on the confines of the district bordering on Bhutan,
had been discovered two days previously lying dead in
bed with his head all but severed from the body, and that
up to the time of despatching the report no clue had been
obtained.

The place of occurrence was some fifty miles from the
station, but of more consequence than distance was the
fact that miles of forest lay between, negotiable on ele-
phants alone, a mode of travel both uncomfortable and
slow. However, the case was too important to be left in
the hands of a sub-inspector, for the crime, committed so
near the frontier, might have some political significance,
hence it was necessary it should be enquired into by a
superior officer. I therefore decided to start at daybreak,
sending out a pony and two elephants overnight, the
latter, with a servant and camp requisites to await me on
the borders of the forest, where I found them on arrival
about 6 a.m. next morning.

Leaving my pony here, I mounted the smaller of the
two elephants, and with my servant and belongings,
including a shot gun, on the other, led the way into the
forest. For the first five hundred yards or so the track
lay through thick, but comparatively low tiger-grass,
but this gradually increased in height and when we had
180

INVESTIGATION OF MURDER CASE

come about a mile it was higher than the elephants, and
finally merged into tree jungle when, mingling with its
undergrowth of brushwood, it seemed to obliterate all
vestige of the track. The Mahouts, however, with the
marvellous instinct of their class, appeared to know exactly
the course that should be steered and, never at fault for
a moment, drove their animals through the dense entangle-
ment as confidently as if we were proceeding along a broad
high-road. Doubtless to their experienced eyes the
track was still as visible as before, for to men accustomed
as these were to travelling through the forest there are
many finger-posts which by those with less experience
would be passed unnoticed. Yet, to thus travel without
a compass, through this seemingly endless sea of jungle,
with not even the sun to guide one's course, seemed to be
a hopeless undertaking, and such in the end it proved.

We had been travelling for three hours and had possibly
accomplished half the journey when we came to a savanna,
or stretch of treeless jungle, occasionally met with in the
very heart of a forest, and usually clothed, as was this
one, with dense, high reed-grass almost as impenetrable
as the jungle we had left. Like most of these savannas,
it was on a lower level than the forest proper and about a
quarter of a mile in width. Emerging from it we had
mounted its opposite shore and were again crashing our
way through tree- jungle, when my Mahout suddenly
halted the elephant, and for the first time since we started
seemed thoroughly perplexed. It turned out the track
he had hitherto been following with such rare and unerring
skill had suddenly come to an end, or rather had become
mixed up with some others, evidently of wild elephants,
hence it was practically impossible to decide which was
the right one. Both the men, dismounting from their
animals, examined the ground carefully, but unable to
arrive at any definite conclusion, hit upon an ingenious,
but somewhat roundabout method of solving the difficulty,
by taking their own elephants for some distance along
each of these tracks, trusting to their keen sense of scent
to discover those of their wild brethren and then, eventually
come to the one made by Forest Department animals,
which we had hitherto been following.

181

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

It was a well-conceived idea and one not without
some promise of success for, strange as it may seem, the
domesticated elephant, while showing no emotion on
scenting a fellow-captive, if it happens to come upon the
scent of a wild one, exhibits the greatest terror, and
immediately proclaims the fact in a manner too demon-
strative to be mistaken. In the present instance this
theory, or rather fact, was proved beyond a doubt. Un-
fortunately, however, for the purposes of our experiment,
the scent left by the wild elephants on this occasion was
evidently too strong, and after investigating several of
the tracks our animals became so thoroughly demoralized
that we were at length compelled to abandon the investiga-
tion.

We now held a consultation and finally selected one
of the tracks which in the opinion of the Mahouts seemed
to lead in the direction we should take, and following
this for a mile or two presently found ourselves in a perfect
labyrinth of channels made by various animals, many of
them apparently quite fresh. To add to our difficulties
it was now becoming dark, so that on the whole, the
situation we were in was anything but a pleasant one, for
the Mahouts now confessed themselves at fault, and with
no one to guide us out of the maze there seemed every
prospect of our passing the night within the forest, without
food or sleep, and exposed to all the dangers of a malaria-
laden atmosphere.

There was another danger also, and one the Mahouts
now made no attempt to conceal, a danger too, which we
could do nothing to avert since the very animals we were
mounted on were the most likely to produce it, a fact they
were evidently aware of themselves, and had shown it
in their demeanour ever since we had come upon the tracks
of the wild herds.

The Mahouts, with their greater knowledge and ex-
perience of such matters, knew full well that should the
presence of our elephants be detected by the wild ones,
the tuskers in the herd would very probably attack them,
in which case our position would indeed be a perilous one,
for exposed as we were, any resistance we attempted
would be absolutely futile. On the other hand, to seek
182

WANDERING IN THE FOREST

safety in flight would be equally out of the question, for
our elephants, hampered with the weight of their trappings
and ourselves, would be no match for their pursuers either
as to pace or in the ease which wild elephants seem able
to force their way through the densest jungles. However,
there was nothing to be gained by staying where we were,
and there being still an hour or two of daylight left, we
made another start, trusting to find our way again before
it was quite dark, or, at any rate, to put some distance
between us and the herd which were evidently near us.
This indeed was our chief object for the moment, but
to accomplish it required some care, lest we might un-
wittingly travel in their direction. However, after another
careful examination, the men discovered a track obviously
less recent than any of the others and, fortunately, going
the right way.

We lost no time in taking advantage of this discovery,
but we had hardly gone two hundred yards when suddenly
we heard the shrill trumpeting of an elephant, followed
by another, then after a short interval some more, pro-
videntially, however, all coming from a direction opposite
to the one in which we were travelling. Happily, too,
except for a low rumbling our animals made no sound,
for had they trumpeted in reply, we must inevitably
have been discovered. Instinctively they seemed to
know that it was necessary to keep silent, also that it was
advisable to quicken their pace, for before their drivers
had time to urge them on they were hurrying along as
fast as the nature of the jungle would allow them. The
sounds continued for some time, but we were relieved to
find them gradually growing fainter, and soon, as we
increased our distance, they finally died away, but still
our elephants hurried on, rumbling from time to time
and searching the air behind them with their trunks, a
if to make sure they were not being pursued.

The pathway we were following eventually led us into
what had evidently once been one of the forest fire-lines,
and proceeding along this with comparative facility for
some distance, we finally came upon a forest look-out
post, a small hut built on the summit of one of the tallest
trees. Here we found its occupant, a young forest guard,

183

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

seated at the foot cooking his evening meal as uncon-
cernedly as if the forest contained no animals more
dangerous than tame cats; even the suddenness of our
approach seemed to have no effect upon his nerves, so
callous do these men become to the dangers of the jungle.
In reply to our enquiries he informed us that although
proceeding in the right direction we should have to make
a long detour to avoid a strip of " Fussan " or bog, which
lay between us and the point for which we were making,
but that there was a bungalow about two miles from his
post where I could put up for the night. The eagerness
with which my men seconded this proposal, added to the
approaching darkness, made me decide on accepting this
suggestion, and, the guard volunteering to show us the
way, I took him up behind me, and proceeding under his
guidance, we soon came upon a large clearing with a small
and somewhat rickety-looking bungalow at one end of it,
erected upon piles some eight feet in height.

We were received by the chokidar, or caretaker, in
charge of the building, an old and curious-looking individual
very different, it struck me, both in manner and appear-
ance from the type of men usually holding these positions,
who, as a rule, belong to the lowest class of the civilized
population of a district, whereas this one had obviously
been, at one time, a kind of wild man of the woods, in
other words an aboriginal, tribes of whom are still to be
found in jungle districts. Nevertheless, semi-savage though
he might be by origin and in appearance, I soon discovered
him to be extraordinarily intelligent and apparently well
accustomed to " Sahibs " and their ways, for I had hardly
been ten minutes in the bungalow before he had unloaded
all my luggage and ranged it round my room. Then,
unlocking a large wooden chest, he produced half a bottle
of brandy and two of soda-water, which, with a tin of mixed
biscuits and a glass, he placed upon the table, explaining
in reply to my enquiry, "that they had been left there by
his master who was coming back next week, but as he felt
sure that the Sahib would like me to make use of them,
he begged that I would do so."

Leaving me to enjoy these unlooked-for luxuries, which
no pampered, white-chokered butler dispensing his master's
184

THE FOREST GUARD

hospitality could have offered with more grace, he went
off muttering something about kerosine tins and water,
while I gulped down the fizzing liquid and blessed him
in my thoughts. Presently, as I sat wondering to myself
how this, seemingly half-tamed, wild creature had acquired
these courteous habits, I had a further proof of his solicitude
on my behalf, for my servant now appeared with the
welcome intimation that a hot tub awaited me in the
bath-room.

It seemed that the old man, with his intimate know-
ledge of a Sahib's requirements, had placed two tins of
water on the fire shortly after my arrival, and having
seen to my refreshments, had now sent them up together
with a towel and cake of soap, presumably also the property
of my unconscious host. But I was destined to have some
more surprises in this seemingly enchanted bungalow, to
which my good angel, in the form of the young forest
guard, had so happily guided my footsteps.

185

CHAPTER XXV

On emerging from my tub I found my servant busy
laying the cloth for dinner, though how he intended
supplying the materials necessary for the meal was beyond
my comprehension, still my late experience encouraged
me to hope these too might be forthcoming. My interest
in the subject was not perhaps unnatural, seeing that since
six o'clock that morning I had had no solid food. How-
ever, my suspense was not of long duration, for soon two
smoking, savoury-smelling dishes were placed upon the
table, promising a sufficiently satisfying meal. The first
contained what was obviously tinned Mulligatawny soup,
mixed with freshly-boiled rice; but the contents of the
other baffled both my sense of taste and smell to discover,
for it was a mysterious-looking compound of which meat
of some kind formed the principal ingredient.

Later I learned from my servant that it was the flesh
of a barking deer which the old man had shot the clay
before and given him to make into a stew for me, probably
trusting to my mistaking it for mutton or, at any rate,
and not unreasonably under the circumstances, to my
not reporting him for shooting in the forest, which, for
natives, is an offence under the rules of the department.
To confess the truth, however, so far from any intention
of taking notice of his transgression, the fact of the old
man proving to be a sportsman as well, had not only
raised him further in my estimation, but increased my
curiosity to learn something as to his antecedents. Accord-
ingly, during the course of the meal I questioned my
servant, but he could tell me nothing except that the man
was an old pensioner of the forest service who had been
given this job of caretaker as an additional income for his
past services. However, after dinner as I was sitting
smoking in the verandah the old man came up himself
186

THE OLD SHIKARI.

[Page 187.

EXPLOITS OF THE GUARD

with a packet of faded-looking papers in his hand, and
making a low salaam, stood in front of me in the attitude
usually assumed by natives when desirous of presenting a
petition.

" Well, ' budha,' * what have you got there ? " I said
encouragingly, holding my hand out for the papers. He
salaamed again, evidently reassured by my manner, and
seeking carefully through the packet selected an envelope
yellow with time and handling, which he handed to me
reverentially with both hands, begging " that my greatness
would condescend to read what was within."

I took the grimy cover and carefully extracted the
contents which seemed equally antiquarian. Two signatures
on the outer fold of the paper immediately caught my
eye, for both were names I knew quite well. The paper
appeared to be a " chit," or certificate, signed by these
two men testifying to the good services rendered by the
bearer as a shikari, and how on one occasion in an encounter
with a rogue elephant he had practically saved their
lives.

Questioning the old man further I ascertained that his
name was Kamsin Mech, and after some persuasion induced
him to recount the tale of the exploit referred to in the
" chit," which when once he had started he told with
considerable skill, improvising by gesture the attitude
of the elephant as it charged and how he, by diverting its
attention, had given time for the sahibs to seek refuge in
a tree.

All this and much more he told me of his experiences
and adventures during his long service as a forest guard,
adventures so varied and exciting that they might have
filled a volume of themselves, for the old man was, in his
own quaint fashion, an excellent raconteur ; but I was fain
at length to seek my well-earned rest, so rewarding the
narrator with a tot of neat brandy, which he swallowed
with much relish, I dismissed him.

But tired as I was with the long, weary journey, I could
not sleep, partly no doubt because of the excitement
produced by the stories I had heard but more for fear lest
I should miss seeing, or at least hearing, the various wild

* Old man.

187

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

animals which, in my ignorance of their habits, I imagined
would come prowling round the bungalow later on when all
was quiet. As I lay awake I listened intently, ready to
jump up at the least sound of any movement in the dense
jungle close behind the bungalow, but hour after hour
went by without so much as the stirring of a leaf to break
the death-like stillness of the night, till one might easily
have supposed that the forest was devoid of anything with
life. At length, the intensity of this silence acting as a
soporific, I dropped off to sleep and was dreaming that I
was being chased by a rogue elephant when I was awakened
by a loud crashing of the jungle seemingly all round me,
and mingled with these sounds shrill trumpetings and
squeals as if all the elephants in the forest were gathered
round the bungalow.

I jumped out of bed at once and seizing my rifle and
some cartridges rushed into the back verandah which
overhung the jungle, but could see nothing for the night
was dark as pitch. Nevertheless, it was evident that
this was the spot whence the sounds proceeded, and pre-
sently, as my eyes became accustomed to the gloom, I
saw that the jungle was alive with huge objects moving
to and fro. Meanwhile, from the servants' quarters and
elephant shed on the other side of the bungalow there rose
the shouts from human voices, amongst which I recognized
the chokidar, yelling to the Mahouts to put extra chains
on to their elephants, and to others to assist him in making
up a fire.

The men apparently realizing the imminence of their
danger and knowing well that a fire was their only chance
of avoiding it, quickly set to work and soon a huge pile
of straw, fed with leaves and branches, was blazing in the
centre of the clearing, revealing the perilous situation
they were in. For now it was apparent that not only
behind the bungalow, but all round it, the jungle bordering
on the open space was rilled with the monstrous forms of
elephants breaking down huge branches and young trees
and slowly advancing nearer to the edge.

In another moment or two, one lot must have emerged
into the open, but fortunately the fire had checked them
for the time, and seeing this, old Kamsin seized a brand
188

WILD ELEPHANTS

from it, and calling on others to do the same, rushed
towards the threatened quarter, brandishing his flaming
weapon and shouting loudly. Quick to guess his object,
the young forest guard, my orderly and some hangers on
of the establishment, carrying out his instructions, made
similar demonstrations at various points of the jungle,
till from my elevated position I could see that the elephants,
completely dumfounded at this unwonted display of fire-
works in the forest, were evidently meditating a retreat.
With their cries now changed from their tones of rage and
defiance to the low rumbling kind of sound with which
all elephants give expression to their feelings when alarmed,
they gradually retired and eventually, led by the chief
tusker of the herd, went off in one long line. In the
meantime our own animals, terrified out of their wits, had
been straining at their chains and making every effort
to escape, for they knew full well that they were the objects
of the attack; but their drivers, fearing they might succeed,
had mounted their respective charges early in the pro-
ceedings and now soon soothed them down.

Thus ended an incident which apart from the excite-
ment it had offered, might well have terminated in a
disaster of some kind, for there must have been some
thirty elephants in the herd, and had they once gained the
opening it is not difficult to imagine the havoc they might
have wrought.

The male portion of the community would doubtless
have found refuge in the bungalow, but there were women
and children in the huts, and in the confusion of the moment
it is improbable that all these could have escaped. More-
over, the bungalow though well raised above the ground
and well-constructed had been standing many years,
exposed, as all wooden buildings in India are, to the ravages
of white ants, many of the posts on which it stood being
partially demolished by these destructive insects. But
while it was unlikely that the elephants, bent solely on
attacking their captive brethren, would have made any
attempt to pull down the building, yet they might easily
have done so, in the rickety condition it was in, for wild
elephants are by nature of a destructive disposition, often
knocking down trees and telegraph and sign-posts, and

189

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

occasionally native huts, for no apparent reason other
than that they happen to be standing up. In fact the
mischievous propensities of these animals were so well
known in the district as to be officially admitted, though
I was hardly prepared to find them financially provided for
in my budget estimate of contingencies.

Looking through the accounts a few days after I had
taken charge I had come upon this curious entry : Rs. 150
for the reconstruction of three Frontier police-posts des-
troyed by wild elephants," and on enquiry found that this
sum was a regular annual grant, solemnly sanctioned by
the Inspector-general of police. As this seemed to be a
gross waste of money due probably, I imagined, to the
absence of proper precautionary measures, I went into
the matter with all the zeal of a new broom, but only to find
that this grant was an absolute necessity, and, so far from
being excessive, was hardly sufficient for the purpose;
for it appeared that these posts were points of observation
placed at intervals along the line of forest frontier, and
having to be abandoned during the rainy season, were
invariably destroyed by wild elephants of which there
were herds without number in that portion of the
district.

Even in the dry season when these posts were manned
they were occasionally attacked by the animals and the
men compelled to fire off blank cartridges to scare them
away, as happened on one occasion when I was inspecting
one, it being part of my duty to visit these guards from
time to time.

Although we had succeeded for the time in driving
the elephants away we kept the fire burning for the
remainder of the night as we could still hear them occa-
sionally in the distance, and it was not until the day had
fairly broken that they finally departed.* But with some
ten miles still to travel I was up before the sun, and by the
light of a solitary candle had already made a hurried
toilette, the art of dressing quickly, and often in the dark,
being one of the accomplishments an Indian police-officer
very soon acquires.

* A year or two later some 250 wild elephants were captured in this
district by the Government Kheddah Department.
190

A THUMB IMPRESSION

A capacity for eating a solid breakfast too before the
sun has risen is another useful habit though one not quite
so easily contracted, but here too I was fortunately efficient
and did full justice to the meal I found laid out in the
verandah.

Meanwhile the elephants, still rumbling and uneasy
after this night experience, were being " padded " and
half an hour later we were once more en route, with the
young forest guard seated behind me, to pilot us
through the jungle. Bestowing a substantial backsheesh
on " mine host " before mounting, I told him I would
inform his master of the hospitality he had shown me,
also that I intended passing another night here on my
return.

" His Highness will be welcome," he replied salaaming
low; then, as he secreted the money in his waist-cloth I
heard him muttering to himself what was evidently a
prayer to his gods, " that the elephants might not again
disturb the ' Huzoor's ' rest."

Guided by the young guardian of the forest, whose
knowledge of its topography, though perhaps not sur-
prising in one of his profession, was yet so marvellously
accurate that we made quite rapid progress and three
hours later came to comparatively open country and were
soon amongst the tea-bushes of the garden we were
bound for. Presently the bungalow hove in sight, its
whitewashed walls and corrugated iron roof standing out
conspicuously from the acres of green, closely- trimmed
tea- bushes by which it was surrounded, and treading our
way very carefully through the latter by narrow paths
running at right-angles to each other, we eventually
reached the building. Here I found the Divisional-
inspector, who had arrived the day before, and had already
held the inquest, a duty which in rural India is performed
by the police. He had also made an exhaustive enquiry
and discovered one most important fact, to wit a thumb-
impression, presumably of the murderer, left in blood
on the stiff cover of an almanac found lying on the
floor.

Apart from this, however, no other evidence was
forthcoming, nor could the only two servants on the premises

191

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

or any of the garden coolies living near form any idea as
to the identity of the individual who had left this blood-
stained clue.

That robbery had been the sole motive for the crime
was doubtful, the amount of property stolen being of
comparatively small value, and possibly taken merely as
a blind. In these circumstances the inspector had come
to the conclusion that revenge was probably the object of
the murderer, and on this hypothesis had since conducted
his enquiry.

Meanwhile he had forwarded the blood-stained almanac
to headquarters, whence it was sent on in due course to
the Inspector-general's office in Calcutta for comparison
with the many thousand thumb- impressions of criminals
already recorded in the Thumb-impression Bureau, then
recently established in that office.*

Taking up my quarters with the European-manager
of a tea-garden some little distance off, I continued the
enquiry for two days, when, having exhausted every
possible source of information, I returned to the bungalow
in the forest on my way back to the station.

As this case created some sensation in Bengal at the
time, being the first detected in that province by the
system of thumb-print identification, recently introduced
into India by the then Inspector-general of police, Bengal, f
a resume of the enquiry may possibly interest the reader.
The thumb-impression sent to Calcutta, being enlarged
by photography and compared with those recorded, proved
to be those of one Kangali Choron Mukujee, who had
been convicted some six months previously and released
from jail a few days prior to the murder.

On this information being communicated to the
inspector it was ascertained that this same Kangali had
once been a servant of the murdered man, and having
stolen some of his property had been prosecuted by him
and convicted. Further enquiry also elicited the fact

* In the early days of the "finger-print" system of identification,
thumb impressions only were taken, finger prints being added later as
the system developed.

t Sir Edward Henrv, now Chief Commissioner Metropolitan Police.
192

TRIAL AND CONVICTION

that he had been seen in the neighbourhood a few days
before the murder. With so strong a prima facie case
against him steps were at once taken for his arrest, which
after much difficulty was finally effected in a village some
three hundred miles distant from the scene of the murder.
He denied all knowledge of the crime, but on being searched
was found to be wearing a cloth, the counterpart of which
was one of a pair belonging to the deceased and of which
one was missing when the inventory of his property was
made by the police.

The identity of the cloth was so clearly established
that it left little doubt as to the guilt of the accused, for
it so happened that both pieces bore an indelible mark
made by the " Dhoby " or washerman, but in the one found
on the prisoner the corner of the cloth where the mark
should be had been either cut or bitten out and apparently
quite recently. When asked to explain the reason of this
hole the prisoner replied that it had been caused by an
accidental burn, but of this there was no sign, although
in cross-examination he admitted that the cloth had not
been washed since the alleged accident !

After his arrest his thumb-impression was again care-
fully taken and found to agree in every detail with that
on the cover of the almanac, and the one recorded in the
bureau, the markings as it happened being of a very rare
order in that they had what is technically termed an
" island " in the middle, in other words a dot with a break
in the cobweb-like lines on either side of it. The accused
seeing the chain of evidence against him being thus gradually
completed, now attempted to prove an alibi, but succeeded
only in adding another link to the chain, for the witnesses
denied all knowledge of his whereabouts on the night of
the crime !

Thus the charges being now considered proved by the
police he was sent up for trial and eventually committed
to the Sessions, charged with robbery and murder, and
was finally convicted, but of robbery only, and sentenced
to two years' imprisonment. The finding and sentence
gave rise to some comment at the time, for it was held by
the prosecution that as he was found guilty of the robbery
he must necessarily, according to the evidence, have also

o 193

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

committed the murder ! But the latter being a capital
offence, it is quite conceivable that a native jury, while
prepared to accept the then novel method of identification
as regards the lesser crime, would not be inclined to rely
on it as conclusive evidence of guilt in the case of an
offence involving a sentence of death.

194

CHAPTER XXVI

To all classes of individuals, whether sportsman, naturalist
or the ordinary traveller whom necessity has compelled
to adopt that line of route, a journey through an Indian
forest must always possess a certain charm if only for the
solitude and mysterious silence by which he is surrounded,
or perhaps because he knows that within those seemingly
uninhabited acres of gigantic trees and dense undergrowth
lies concealed many a dangerous animal, one or more of
which might at any moment cross the path before him, or
unseen and unheard, be following stealthily, sheltered by
the masses of thick tiger-grass usually found on each side
of the track. Even when travelling thus by day, and in
comparative security on an elephant, such thoughts are
ever present ; but as the hour of sunset gradually approaches
the fascination of the situation soon changes to one, if not
of terror, at best to a feeling of uncomfortable apprehension,
and not without good reason, for at this eerie hour the
denizens of the jungle are wont to start on their nightly
wanderings, the larger carnivora on their way to the
open in search of village cattle grazing near the borders
of the forest, the rhinoceri to their feeding ground on the
plains, and elephants to wander, in their seemingly aimless
fashion, from one portion of the forest to another.

I had left the tea garden late in the afternoon and
when the hour of sunset was approaching, was still some
distance from the bungalow which I had hoped to reach
in daylight. Soon the brief eastern twilight, shortened
yet further by the gloom within the forest, merged into
total darkness, and but for the marvellous instinct of our
guide, the forest guard, we must inevitably have wandered
from the track.

195

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

For one long, anxious hour we plodded blindly through
those three miles of silent, awe-inspiring gloom, our
elephants evidently as anxious as ourselves lest any of their
wild brethren be encountered on the way. Happily the
herd we feared to meet, the same that had beset us in the
bungalow, probably alarmed at the reception they had
met with, had apparently left this portion of the forest
for the time, for we heard no sound of them, nor of any
other beast more dangerous than a sambhur. At length,
out of the inky darkness, a light, seeming by contrast as
brilliant as if from an electric lamp, suddenly appeared
some hundred yards in front of us, followed by another,
then a third, conveying the welcome intimation that we
had arrived at our destination. It was the old bungalow
chokidar, whose practised ears had caught the sound of
elephants approaching, and fearing lest in the darkness we
should miss the small entrance to the clearing, had, with
his solitary lantern and some straw, hurriedly prepared
these useful beacons, without which we might possibly
have continued on our way along the track.

A belated dinner off one of the old man's laying-hens,
which in the ordinary course of nature might have pursued
her useful occupation for some years, a pipe or two, enjoyed
in the combined luxury of a long chair and pyjamas, and
then to bed, concluded this long tiring day. But as I
laid my weary head upon the pillow, I had the satisfaction
of feeling that, to misquote " The Village Blacksmith,"
" something had been attempted, something done," for I
now knew that the last two days of hard work and dis-
comfort had not been spent in vain, as was subsequently
proved.

With the first appearance of the dawn the forest had
awakened into life, and in the jungle immediately around
us could be heard the loud notes of birds of various kinds
from the shrill " chichira-chichiri "-like call of the black
partridge to that peculiar, half -stifled crow with which
the jungle cock salutes the coming day. Presently, as I
stood on the verandah, watching the growing light, I saw
two of these gorgeously plumed chanticleers emerge
cautiously from the jungle in a secluded corner of the
clearing and, soon joined by the ladies of their respective
196

CHASED BY A BEAR

harems, comparatively dowdy in appearance, begin to
feed along the edge.

With the natural instincts of a sportsman, combined,
I confess, with the desire to procure a jungle fowl for
breakfast, I took up my gun and loading with No. 5, ran
quickly down the steps and across the open, then forced
my way into the jungle some distance below the birds, and,
regardless of what I might encounter, started to stalk them.
It was not an easy process, for the undergrowth was dense.
However, in due course having, as I thought, arrived within
range, I made my way towards the edge, and peeping out
found myself within ten yards of the birds, still busy
feeding and evidently unconscious of my presence.

Ignoring, I confess to my shame, the very unsportsman-
like nature of the proceeding, I fired off a right and left
into the " brown," but before I had time to see what
damage I had done a loud " hough-hough," seemingly
close beside me, sent my heart into my boots, and the
next moment I was making a bee-line for the bungalow,
instinctively aware that there was some animal in pursuit.
Fortunately the beast, apparently alarmed at finding
itself so completely in the open, had soon pulled up, and
looking round as I gained the bungalow steps I saw a
huge black bear waddling back into the forest, grunting
as if with disgust at having been aroused from its sleep,
and put to all this unnecessary trouble and annoyance.
To go after the beast with any hope of finding it again
in that huge forest was, I knew, useless; but later on,
accompanied by my orderly, I returned to the scene of my
onslaught on the fowls, to find I had slain a cock and two
hens, the former a splendid specimen, but only from a
naturalist's point of view, as I discovered when attempting
to make my breakfast off it later.

After breakfast, as I sat smoking and thinking over
the incidents which had signalized my entry into the
district, I felt I had certainly no reason to complain of the
absence of excitement, for to be lost in a forest, attacked
by wild elephants, and finally to be chased by a bear,
all within a period of eight and forty hours, was a fairly
good record of adventures. Congratulating myself then
at being now quite off the beaten track and in a land

197

LIFE IX THE INDIAN POLICE

where the monotony of Indian official life was likely to
be occasionally relieved by such experiences. I sent for
the old forester, with a view to seeking his assistance
to find me some local hunter whom I could employ
as a M shikari." Soon, in obedience to my summons, he
came up accompanied by the young forest guard, and,
as the two, after making their obeisance, stood before me,
I was surprised to find how closely they resembled one
another, indeed, but for the difference in their ages, they
might easily have been taken for twin brothers. In their
clothing, too, the likeness was repeated, for each had on a
skin-tight khaki suit with putties wound tightly round their
shapeless shanks and ending in huge ammunition boots,
the whole turn-out differing, like their wearers, only in
point of age, the older man's attire being archaic to a degree
bordering on dissolution.

Taking his companion by the hand, he led him up to
me and. salaaming again, formally introduced him as his
son, and ,k owing to the clemency of the Sirkir,* also his
successor, the present forest guard," he added, looking
proudly at his offspring. The latter nervously acknow-
ledged this last statement with an involuntary grin,
quite out of keeping with the intended solemnity of the
proceedings, a fact he seemed to realize, for he quickly
changed the grimace for an expression he considered more
suitable to the occasion. Noticing his confusion. I tried
to put him at his ease by saying that I was glad to see he
was following his father's calling and hoped that he might
eventually make as great a name for himself in the depart-
ment as had the other.

M He has a greater name already. Huzoor," interrupted
the sire, taking my meaning literally, M for he is called
Duntal Sing after the big tusker that had killed so many
people, because on the day that he was born my Sahib
shot this miahtv beast which we had been hunting for
some days."

He then went on to relate how on that eventful day
he had been out with his master, following the beast on
foot, when it had suddenly charged them, and how they
had only just escaped by swarming up a tree, whence the

* Government.
19S

ENGAGEMENT OF SHIKARI

Sahib, with well-directed aim, had sent a bullet through
its brain, killing it on the spot.

Now, as it happened, I had heard this tale before, and
how the old man had on this occasion saved his master's
life at the risk of his own, by distracting the elephant's
attention, but there was no word of this in his recital of
the incident, nor when I referred to it did it seem to strike
him that he had done anything out of the way. Meanwhile,
the son, evidently a true chip of the old block, forgetting
his shyness, had been listening with all the sportsman's
interest to the tale, though he had doubtless heard it
before, for it was one of many to his parent's credit which
my cousin had mentioned in his earlier letters to me when
a boy.

I now broached the subject of the shikari, but the old
man's reply to my enquiries was not encouraging, though
as I learnt later, perfectly true.

44 The Huzoor will find many in the district, all calling
themselves shikaris because they know how to fire a gun,
but none who have any knowledge of the jungle or of the
animals that live in it."

" But," he continued, after a pause, " why does the
Huzoor seek to employ any other when he can command
the services of his servant ? Can these strangers serve
him any better than one who has grown old in the service
of the Sahiblogue ? "

44 What ? " I exclaimed, amazed at his suggestion, 44 an
old man like you do the hard work of a shikari ? "

44 Why not, Sahib ? My arms and legs are strong and
I still can see and hear. How then could a younger man
with no knowledge of the jungles serve the Sahib so well ? "

His argument was convincing, for despite the burden
of his years, he still seemed full of energy and strength,
while, for knowledge of wild animals and wood-craft, I
knew he could not be surpassed by any shikari in Bengal.
Hence, ignoring his longevity, I closed with his offer
without further delay. He seemed much pleased at my
decision, and going off to his hut presently returned with
a double-barrelled gun, which he handed me, pointing to
a silver plate let into the stock. Reading the inscription
on the plate I found the gun had been purchased out of

199

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

a money reward paid to him by the Government for
assisting the police. He told me all about it, but the
story is too long to relate ; however, it seemed that on one
occasion, utilizing his gift for tracking wild animals, he
had tracked and finally hunted down a receiver of stolen
property and had thus been the means of the whole gang
being discovered and eventually brought to justice.
His reason for showing me the gun being that it was one
of my predecessors, the police officer of the district at
the time who had recommended the reward and subsequently
expended it in the purchase of this weapon, together with
the plate and inscription.

" Yes, it was by grace of the Huzoor, him who was
afterwards, I hear, the Police-general Sahib, that I received
this," he added presently, and taking the weapon from me,
lifted it reverently to his forehead in token of his gratitude
and respect.

Finally the question of remuneration, arrangements
for resigning his present post, and all such other details
having been settled, it was decided he should enter my
service as a shikari after the ensuing rains when the camping
season would commence. Later in the day I started on
my return to the station, and, being accompanied by the
young forest guard, who guided us to the entrance of the
forest, accomplished the journey much more rapidly than
before and without any adventures by the way.

200

g

*

CHAPTER XXVII

Many years before, when this district was created, Govern-
ment, on the representation of the first district officers
pointing out the difficulties of locomotion through the
then trackless forests, had provided them with elephants,
and although their numbers had been gradually reduced
there were still three attached to the office of the Deputy
Commissioner and two to mine. All these five animals
had been in the district for some time, being part of the lot
originally provided, but by years of training under successive
sporting officers had long been converted from mere beasts
of burden to Shikari elephants of more than ordinary
excellence, and were now seldom employed in any meaner
capacity. Amongst them was one renowned throughout
the district for its courage and intelligence, a single tusker
or " Gonesh " as such animals are termed by the natives,
and much reverenced as being symbolical of the deity of
that name. This animal, which bore the high-sounding
name of " Bagh-Bahadur," signifying broadly " His Majesty
the tiger," happened, fortunately, to be one of the two
attached to my office, a fortuity to which I owed many a
victory in my subsequent encounters with tigers and other
dangerous beasts.

There was another animal belonging to the Deputy
Commissioner, which, but for its years, might have rivalled
mine in excellence, a huge, up-standing beast nearly ten
feet in height, called " Bhalloo-Pershad," the first meaning
Bear and the other an eulogic suffix having no English
equivalent.

Most elephants are given these high-sounding names,
but I mention these two in particular since they had been
bestowed for special acts of valour, performed by these
animals respectively, many years before.

The first had attacked a charging tiger and, meeting it

201

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

half-way, had driven its tusk through it, then trampling it
with the feet had finally killed the beast, alone and unaided
by the sportsman who had been thrown out of the Howdah
and lay at the mercy of the brute, which would otherwise
have killed him to a certainty.

The other had earned its title for the extraordinary
courage it had displayed in an encounter with a bear, an
animal feared by elephants as a rule, which it had chased
through the jungle with extraordinary persistency, and
finally coming up to it had pounded the beast to death.

In addition to these five, the forest officer had several
of which two or three were usually at headquarters, hence,
on receiving information of a " kill," we could always get
together half a dozen which generally proved sufficient,
for these " kills " were, as a rule, of goats or calves, killed
in the smaller jungles round the village near the station.
We made several of these expeditions, averaging probably
one a week, and shot many a leopard, sometimes a pair
in one jungle, and occasionally a tiger, but it must not be
supposed we were always successful, far from it, for as
often as not we returned empty-handed.

Sometimes we would find the " kill " totally demolished
and the leopard gone off to some other jungle, or, worse
still, that the " kill " had died a natural death and, devoured
by jackals, had been reported as killed by a tiger or
leopard as the case might be. At other times we would
perhaps put up the animal only to lose sight of it again,
and after beating for several hours, finally discover that it
had quietly sneaked away ; or again, after hunting all the
afternoon, perhaps come upon our quarry when it was
too dark to take advantage of the find, and, while knowing
it was there, be compelled to abandon the pursuit. But
these occasional disappointments so far from damping
our ardour, only increased our appetite for the sport, and
we would set out again next time, hopeful and keen as ever,
and if successful forget all our previous failures and think
only of what we had just achieved. A detailed account
of some of these expeditions would doubtless prove of in-
terest to the sportsman, and I might be tempted to relate
them, but that there are adventures more curious and
exciting still to come.
202

OFFICIALS OF THE DISTRICT

Before proceeding, however, it is necessary that I
should introduce my new companions, so far only indicated
by their official status in the district, as some of them are
connected with the incidents and adventures I met with
during the exciting and adventurous period I passed in the
district.

" Seniores Prioris " then, both in rank and age, was
Miles, the Deputy Commissioner, an old-style civilian of
the rule of thumb order, who, but for his unconventional
methods, and independent spirit, would long since have
attained the highest rung of the ladder leading to pro-
motion, for as an executive and administrative official
there was probably none more efficient in his service.
Unfortunately, however, in the matter of rules and regu-
lations he had views and ideas of his own, and, equally
unfortunately, the courage of his opinions, which often
brought him into violent conflict with the authorities at
headquarters. In his judicial capacity, moreover, he had
often scandalized that august and time-honoured assemblage
of learned praetors known as the High Court, by his extra-
ordinary decisions, as no doubt they were from the legal
point of view, for in his anxiety to do justice, he frequently
ignored the niceties of the law, of wrhich he appeared to
have much the same opinion as that said to have been
once expressed by Mr. Bumble. Nevertheless, his know-
ledge of it was undeniable, for despite his occasionally
strange interpretations, his judgments were sound and
generally upheld. He had joined the service during the
last years of the East India Company's administration,
and, like many of this old type of Indian Civil Servants,
he believed in rough and ready justice as being more
suitable to the people than the new elaborated judicial
system, based on a Western civilization, which they could
not understand. On the other hand, with his long experi-
ence of the country and thorough knowledge of the native
character, there were few district officers in the province
who, either in their judicial or executive capacities, could
better unravel the tangled mass of lying evidence so often
produced before them, or arrive more nearly at the truth
of a case as it is possible to do when dealing with Indian
witnesses.

203

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

The next in order of seniority was McFarlane, our cheery
and most efficient medico, a Scotsman who had come out
as a ship's surgeon and eventually joined the local medical
service. He was a very sporting individual, and having
little else to occupy his time except the jail, of which he
was in charge, was always available for our shooting expedi-
tions.

The forest officer, appropriately named Woods, who,
if dominion over the jungles counted for power, should
have held the highest position in the district, since close
on two-thirds of it was virtually under his control. Assisted
by an army of rangers, foresters and guards, he ruled this
huge domain and, excepting for the four months' rainy
season, lived practically in his jungle kingdom, moving
from one forest bungalow to another in a ceaseless round of
supervision and inspection. He was an enthusiast as
regarded his profession, as indeed all forest officers have
need to be, for despite its fascination the life is necessarily
a lonely one. Nevertheless, given a sound constitution
and a love of sport, it is a very tolerable existence. Woods
was gifted with a large share of both these qualities and,
moreover, was not often alone, for he was hospitably
inclined, and there were always willing guests in the
station only too delighted to spend a week-end, or a week
with him in his forest home.

Finally there was Rhodes, the District Engineer, but
one of a very different pattern to my old friend Burke of
Purneah. Moreover, unlike most Anglo-Indians, he had
a most extraordinary aversion to games or sport in any
shape or form, hence was as much out of his element in
the district as the fish of the old proverb.

We tried to improve him by once taking him out
shooting, but the experiment so nearly ended in disaster
that we came to the conclusion it would be safer to leave
him as he was, but as the threatened tragedy I refer to had
a somewhat comical finale, an account of it may interest
the reader.

Thinking it safer to impart the preliminary instruction
with shot guns, we had taken our pupil out after partridge,
and were beating through some grass, when, at the first
bird that rose, which, by the way, happened to be a crow,
204

SHAMMING DEAD

he let off both barrels, the contents of one lodging in the
body of one of the beating elephants, while with some
pellets of the other, he peppered its Mahout. The latter,
more frightened than hurt, reeling for a moment in his
seat, slid down to the ground, and, as is usual with natives
on such occasions, crying out that he was dead, went off
apparently into a swoon. Our friend who, to give him
his due, was a most kind-hearted individual, swarming
down his elephant's tail with an agility he had never
before displayed, rushed up to the prostrate man, and
kneeling down beside him, made every effort to restore
him, but without any success. Meanwhile Miles, the
doctor and myself, who were some distance away, had also
dismounted from our respective animals, and as we ap-
proached the scene of the disaster, we could hear the
distracted author of the calamity, imploring his victim
in Hindustani " to show some sign of life," promising
him " backsheesh " if he would exhibit some evidence of
vitality.

" I will give you ten rupees to get up," he began, but
there was no response. " Twenty ! " he added, the reward
increasing in proportion to his anxiety, still the man gave
no sign of reanimation. Then, driven to desperation,
he yelled out : " Fifty rupees — I will give you fifty
rupees ! "

Now, whether only a coincidence or part of his well-
laid plan, we could not tell just then, but at the mention
of this sum the " dead man " came to life in the twinkling
of an eye, and looking round him, in real or feigned surprise
he exclaimed, " Ab tora accha hye Sahib," which, rendered
into English, meant that " he was now feeling somewhat
better."

Rhodes, in his excitement and delight at this sudden
resurrection, would, I believe, have embraced him on the
spot, but the doctor, with professional prerogative, pushed
him aside, and taking the man's hand placed his ringers
on his pulse, a test which presently confirmed the sus-
picions he had formed, for he found the man had been
shamming all the time and, except for a few pellets hardly
through the skin, was not hurt at all. Nevertheless, the
unhappy Rhodes had to pay the " backsheesh " he had

205

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

promised, which he did willingly enough, only too pleased
to have escaped being had up for manslaughter, but
nothing would induce him to touch a gun again, for with
this, his first and last attempt to learn the use of fire-arms,
he came to the conclusion that Nature had not intended
him for a sportsman.

206

CHAPTER XXVIII

Having joined my new district at the height of the rainy
season, it was some weeks before I was able to explore it,
hence, except for the shooting expeditions already men-
tioned and an occasional visit to some neighbouring village
on investigation duty, had hitherto seen but little of it.
But with the breaking up of the rains, I extended my
explorations, inspecting such police posts as were not
still cut off by flooded rivers, or those to which the roads
and bridges now afforded easier access, preparatory to that
more serious undertaking known officially as " the cold
weather tour."

In anticipation of this, the most enjoyable of an Anglo-
Indian official duties, all the tents and camp equipage
which had been stored away at the end of the last cold
season, were now all erected in various open places to be
aired, overhauled and repaired in readiness for the general
exodus, to take place on or about the 15th of November.
For, with the red-tapism that characterizes all official
events in India, this is the date fixed " by order " for the
cold weather tour to begin, as if climate and temperature
were commodities like beer in a cask, to be turned on and
off at will. Nevertheless, such is the order, and though
more often observed in the breach, is occasionally the cause
of considerable discomfort in other ways, as for example, in
a particularly warm November, for the hot weather having
ceased officially on the fifteenth, all office punkah-pullers
are discharged on that date, leaving the unhappy victims
of this bureaucratic sophistry to stew in their offices for
the remainder of the month.

However, in this particular year, the cold season
happened to set in exceptionally early, and Miles and
myself, having previously arranged to camp together, we

207

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

commenced our preparations soon after the first of No-
vember, for a month's tour in the northern portion of the
district. Our camp was to be a large one, for we intended
travelling in comfort, an end only to be accomplished by-
taking a double set of tents, one lot in occupation, and the
other always on ahead, ready for use on arrival at the next
encampment, each set comprising two personal and one
mess tent and their respective furniture. In addition
to the above, there were some half a dozen small tents or
" sholdaris " for the servants and police guard, the whole,
plus our personal belongings, kitchen utensils, provisions,
etc., when loaded on some twenty dilapidated looking
bullock carts, presented a most disorderly appearance.
Indeed, later on, as these creaking crazy-looking vehicles
went off, accompanied by a crowd of servants, all dressed
in camp attire, each carrying some forgotten article per-
taining to his department, the whole outfit might well have
been mistaken for a band of strolling gipsies, proceeding,
bag and baggage, to some fair. Amongst this motley
retinue was Miles's old khansamah, who invariably attired
in flowing robes of snowy whiteness, with a long white
beard to match, had always presented a most dignified
appearance, reminding me of the pictures I had seen of
Aaron in my youth, was now so completely metamorphized
as to be scarcely recognizable. Instead of his flowing
snow-white garments, this venerable individual was now
clothed in one of his master's cast-off Norfolk jackets with
a " kummerbund " girt tightly round the waist, while his
nether limbs were clad in riding breeches, also inherited,
and putties, ending in a pair of old tennis shoes. But it
was not only his clothing which had undergone this
extraordinary transformation, for as I stood gazing at
him in wonder, I missed the long white beard, and finally
discovered it adorning each side of his face, this seemingly
miraculous transposition having, apparently, been effected
by dividing it down the centre and tying the two portions
round the head, where it was secured under his pugri made
of a woollen comforter, of colours as varied as Joseph's
coat. Seeing me looking at him, he turned off after the
carts evidently much distressed that I should have seen
him thus attired, for by the best class of native servants
208

FIRST ENCAMPMENT

to appear before their masters improperly costumed, is
considered a mark of disrespect.

The distance to our first encampment was nearly
twenty miles, and as the ordinary pace of a bullock cart
is two miles an hour, we calculated on their arriving that
night, and the tents being erected and ready for us early
the next morning, but as delays are sometimes unavoidable,
we did not start till the afternoon.

We had sent out riding-horses for the last stage of the
journey and, driving the first twelve miles, came up to them
when the sun had lost some of its power, and after an hour's
pleasant ride in the cool of the evening, arrived in camp
shortly before dark, to find the tents all pitched and
furnished, and the old " khansamah " reclothed in con-
ventional attire, waiting to give us tea. As we dismounted
and entered the mess tent, which, with the sides open to
admit the evening breeze, was pitched between the other
two, it seemed almost impossible to believe that this spacious
and most comfortably furnished apartment was but a
canvas structure, erected in an hour and to be presently as
speedily demolished and removed.

My camping experiences, hitherto, had been of the rough
and ready order, as I had not as yet adopted the more
luxurious mode of travel which comes with years, and,
more particularly promotion, hence, to find a tea-table
with china cups and a tea-pot, arm-chairs and table covers,
to say nothing of a stove, were luxuries I had not been
accustomed to in the jungle. But Miles, as has been
already stated, being one of the old school of civilians, had
retained many of the traditions of this class and acquired
some of their ways, amongst others that of travelling in
comfort which, with the old Company's servants, had been
brought to a fine art.

After tea we wandered round the camp and finally on
to where the elephants were tethered, or picketed, to be
more accurate, for this was literally the method of attach-
ment, though somewhat curiously carried out. Each
animal had a chain attached to one of its hind legs and
about six feet in length, the other end being fastened to a
stake or picket which was buried horizontally deep into
the ground and the earth thrown in again and rammed

p 209

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

well down. All the animals were secured in this strange
fashion, and though some were straining heavily at their
chains, the strain being in an horizontal direction seemed
to have no effect on the fastening. It was an ingenious
contrivance as well as a good illustration of the old proverb,
for it had doubtless been an invention born of necessity
on some such occasion as the absence of trees, or any other
means of tethering elephants for the night.

In the encampment of the Mahouts, too, which we
passed on our way back to the tents, we found another
product of this force-majeure in the general shelter they
had constructed for themselves, for not being supplied
with tents, they had placed all the elephant pads up edge-
ways in the form of a quadrangle, and with the tarpaulins
as a ceiling had made quite a comfortable abode. Amongst
its occupants was my old shikari, Kamsin, who, true to
his promise, had come to me a few days before, and finding
himself somewhat out of his element amongst the more
civilized members of the establishment, had taken up his
quarters with the Mahouts. We found him full of informa-
tion as to the sport likely to be obtainable in the neigh-
bourhood, and he had already marked down a leopard
in an adjacent jungle, hinting also that there was the
possibility of a tiger-killing in a day or two, as one had
attacked a buffalo near the village the day before, but had
only clawed it, being driven off by the rest of the herd.
That he could have obtained all this information within
so short a period seemed almost inconceivable, hence,
despite his well-known skill in jungle craft, we were inclined
to be somewhat sceptical, thinking that, like most natives,
he was only telling us what he knew we would like to hear.
However, the jungle said to hold the leopard, being quite
close, we decided to exploit it, so, ordering the elephants
to be ready early in the morning, we strolled back to the
tents, in front of which a huge camp fire was now burning.
We sat smoking round it for some time, discussing the
old man's information and wondering how much of it was
true. Miles, who although a keen sportsman was some-
what of a pessimist, had just observed that " since he had
been in the district, he had never heard of there being any
game in the jungle mentioned," when suddenly from this
210

00
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CO CO

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A LEOPARD AT THE TENTS

very direction there came the harsh, short, rasping cry of
a leopard. The beast seemed to be so near that running
to the tent we seized our rifles and some cartridges and stood
listening beside the fire, expecting every moment to see the
animal emerge from the outer darkness into the circle
of light within which we were standing, but evidently
the beast was further off than we imagined. It continued
calling, however, at intervals for some time, and until
dinner was announced, when, concluding that it was the
fire that prevented its coming nearer, we finally retired
to the mess tent and went on with our meal.

We dined as comfortably and sumptuously that night
as if still in the station, and none the less en joy ably, for the
weird music that went on at intervals throughout the meal
lending an extraordinary fascination to the situation, from
the knowledge that between us and this dangerous per-
former there was nothing but a flimsy canvas wall, for the
animal, though still invisible, was now prowling round the
camp, coming perilously near at times, as it passed behind
the tent on the side opposite to the fire. Happily, intent
on its own business, whatever this might have been, it
made no attempt to break through. Finally, and much to
our relief, it went back into the jungle, when its cries,
becoming gradually less frequent, ceased for the time, but
we ordered another fire to be lit behind the tents, and both
were kept burning throughout the night.

Up the next morning before sunrise, and breakfasting
by lamp-light, we mounted our howdahs and started for
the jungle, which we reached just as day was breaking,
and taking up our position at one end of it sent the beating
elephants round to the other.

The jungle being a comparatively small one and princi-
pally composed of grass, it did not take the elephants very
long to beat through it, but although it was evident from
their behaviour that some animal had recently been in it,
the beat proved a blank. However, we put them in again
and accompanying the line ourselves, searched the jungle
thoroughly, but with no better result. Kamsin now
dismounted and, like a hound at fault, went carefully
round the outskirts of the grass, finally coming on to some
fresh " pugs." Following these foot-prints, we found they

211

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

led in the direction of a larger jungle about a mile away,
to which the beast had probably retired after its fruitless
visit to our camp, or on hearing the noise made by the
Mahouts when putting on the howdahs. Be this as it
might, there seemed every probability of our finding the
beast there, hence we resolved to investigate this jungle
as speedily as possible, for we knew it was a large one, and
consequently would take some time to beat. But when we
reached it, and saw the enormous extent of ground it covered,
we were half inclined to give up the attempt. Fortunately,
however, the old shikari was of a more sagacious and per-
severing disposition. Mounting one of the smaller elephants
he started off alone on a voyage of discovery, and in about
an hour's time returned with the welcome information
that there was a clearing in the middle of the jungle where
the howdahs could be posted. Leaving the beating ele-
phants outside, we returned with him along the path he
had made, proceeding in single file and as noiselessly as
possible, till we came to a comparatively open space
about eighty yards by ten, where for some unknown reason,
the trees were fewer and the undergrowth less dense. This
opening, being across the length of the jungle, practically,
at this spot, divided it in two, so, posting ourselves one
at each end of the clearing with the elephants and howdahs
carefully concealed within the jungle, we commanded the
whole space.

The shikari, having satisfied himself that we were per-
fectly invisible, now returned to marshal the beat, and
about an hour later we heard the elephants crashing through
the jungle, the sounds gradually approaching nearer till,
so far as we could judge, the animals appeared to be within
two hundred yards of our position. Suddenly they seemed
to come to a standstill, a supposition soon confirmed by
the drivers, whose voices could now be heard, as in terms
of endearment mingled with abuse they attempted to
urge their unwilling animals to advance, but only to be
met with noisy expostulations expressed in loud trumpetings
and squeals. Presently, above the uproar thus created,
was heard the shrill treble of our old shikari, proclaiming
the discovery of the carcase of a buffalo which he had
apparently just found, and almost simultaneously there
212

LEOPARD ON A TREE

came a sound as of some heavy animal crashing through
the jungle close to Miles' post. The next instant a huge
tiger broke into the open and galloping across it, had almost
reached the opposite cover, when two shots rang out in
quick succession, but with what effect I could not tell, as
the smoke from the old black powder of those days ob-
structed my vision for the time. However, when it had
cleared off, there was nothing to be seen, so concluding
that Miles, in the excitement of the moment, had either
missed the beast entirely or merely wounded it, I was
about to join him, when my attention was attracted to
a tree, standing high above the jungle about a hundred
and fifty yards in front of us. It was a " simul " or
cotton tree, of very considerable height, but, like most of
its kind, with branches only commencing near its summit,
where they extended horizontally and were thickly clothed
with leaves. Hanging across one of the lowest of these
branches, and partially concealed by the thick foliage,
was an object resembling a coloured rug or carpet, and
dangling from this, what looked to be a thick piece of
rope, about three feet in length, which was moving to and
fro as though with the wind. Wondering what this strange
thing could be, and, if a rug, how it had been placed in this
extraordinary position, I put up my glasses, when what
was my amazement to find that the object I had imagined
to be a rug was the spotted skin of a leopard covering the
living animal, which, lying ail limp and doubled up across
the branch, and with its tail hanging down, had given it
the appearance I have described.

How the beast had climbed up to this height, some
thirty feet at least, without a branch or any projection to
assist it, or why it had done so at all, were questions I
left for subsequent investigation, being more concerned,
just then, lest it should descend before I had time to get a
shot.

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CHAPTER XXIX

The tree which the leopard had selected for its perch was,
as I have mentioned, about a hundred and fifty yards from
where I stood, but the intervening space being densely
clothed with jungle, it was necessary to observe some
caution in traversing it, since any excessive disturbance
of the jungle might alarm the wary beast. Making our
way, therefore, as silently as possible, we finally arrived
at the foot of the tree, apparently unseen and unheard,
but only to find that from this position there was but
little of the leopard to be seen except the head, and of this
only the under portion of the jaw and throat.

I deliberated for some moments whether to fire at once
or wait a more favourable opportunity, but finally decided
to risk the shot, hoping the bullet might continue its
direction after impact, and ultimately reach the brain,
but, to make more certain, I fired both barrels almost
simultaneously.

The smoke prevented my witnessing the immediate
effect of my performance, but from the loud crashing over-
head, followed by a heavy thud upon the ground a yard or
two in front, I was satisfied I had succeeded in my object,
for even supposing both bullets had missed, a fall from such
a height was sufficient to kill any animal of this weight.
But, as it turned out, both bullets had hit, one pene-
trating to the brain and the other in the centre of the
gullet, hence the animal was probably dead before it reached
the ground, where it now lay doubled up and considerably
damaged by the fall.

Having thus satisfactorily disposed of the leopard, I
left the carcase where it lay and hurried after Miles, who
had by this time disappeared into the opposite jungle,
where I soon found him busy, but exceedingly jubilant,
measuring his tiger ! He, too, it seemed, had been as
214

LEOPARD'S CLIMB EXPLAINED

fortunate as myself, but had made infinitely better shooting,
having hit the tiger, going at full gallop, through the head
and shoulder, and had found it lying dead in the jungle,
within a yard or two of where it had entered.

Old Kamsin, delighted at our success, now proceeded
to explain what had hitherto been a mystery to us both,
viz. the sudden appearance of the tiger and the extra-
ordinary performance of a leopard climbing up a tree,
thirty feet in height, and smooth as a telegraph pole.

It appeared that the crafty and secretive old shikari
had heard a rumour that a buffalo had been killed, but not
being sure of his information had kept it to himself till
he had come across the carcase in the jungle, when he had
intended to warn us, but the tiger showed itself before he
had time. His theory, and probably the correct one,
was that the tiger had killed early the previous night, and,
as often happens, had gone away to drink. Meanwhile,
the leopard, after visiting our camp, while prowling
through this jungle, had found the dead buffalo, and was
making a meal off it when the tiger suddenly returned,
and catching the thief flagrante delicto, the latter, in its
terror, had swarmed up the tree standing close at hand,
instinctively aware that its more powerful but less active
antagonist could not follow in pursuit.

Such was the old man's explanation of the incident
which had led to our extraordinary success, but, while
admitting it was correct, the fact still remained that the
leopard in climbing to such a height up a perfectly plain
surface, had accomplished a most remarkable feat, and one
probably unequalled by any of its kind.

The tiger proved to be as huge as it had looked, while
the other, though but an ordinary sized beast, also measured
big owing to an abnormally long tail, so that on the whole
our performance for the day was most satisfactory all
round.

The next three days were entirely given up to work,
Miles trying cases previously fixed for trial at this camp,
while I was as busily engaged, inspecting one of my police
stations about ten miles from our camp ; for it must not
be supposed that the Indian official, when in camp, devotes
all his time to sport, on the contrary, he has more work

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

to do, for in addition to the ordinary papers and reports
which are sent out to him daily from the station, he has
his inspection and other out-of-door duties to attend to.
Nevertheless, the life is a most enjoyable one, especially
in a " jungle district " such as we were in, where tiger
and leopard shooting is as much an official's duty as his
pastime, for complaints were constantly being received of
cattle killed by one or other of these beasts, to rid them
of which the people seemed to think was part of our day's
work. Many were the leopards we disposed of, through
information brought us in this way, during our tour, and a
tiger, too, occasionally, for as we advanced further from the
station, we came to wilder country and often our camp was
pitched close to dense jungles where these animals abounded
and were continually preying on the cattle of the villages
scattered along the borders of these jungles.

Unfortunately as the people came to know us better,
and saw how ready we were to accept, and act on any
44 Khubbur " that was brought, they took to bringing
in false information of " kills," not with any deliberate
intention to deceive, but because, having perhaps heard a
tiger or leopard calling near their village, they knew that
by scouring the jungle with our elephants, we might come
across it, at any rate drive the beast away. However,
after two or three of these wild-goose chases in which we
spent hours searching the jungles for these imaginary
44 kills," we grew wiser, and finally adopted the better
plan of sending our shikari to test the information before
going out ourselves, and it was in connection with one of
his investigations that an incident occurred which is pro-
bably without parallel in the annals of Indian sport.

We had been about a fortnight out in camp, and were
encamped, at the time, some ten miles from the range of
hills which divide British territory from that mysterious
and unexplored country shown in the maps as Bhutan,
but of which little is known, even to the British officials
employed, as we were, in the district nearest to its borders.

Our camp was pitched on a comparatively open plain
near a village inhabited by some 44 Mechis," one of the
aboriginal tribes before mentioned, but surrounded on all
sides by dense jungle infested with wild animals of every
216

TIGER IN A CAVE

kind, from elephants to the small rare creature known to
naturalists as the pigmy-hog. Yet, curiously enough,
as we found on inquiry, the number of village cattle killed
annually here was considerably less than in many other
places we had visited, where the jungles were far smaller
and more remote from the villages, but, consulting our
oracle, we learnt that this seeming anomaly was due to
the fact that in these larger jungles, the larger carnivora
find sufficient sustenance by preying on the other animals,
such as pig and deer, not usually found in the smaller
jungles. Consequently, although we had been four days
in this camp, and had frequently heard leopards calling
in the night, there had been so far no news of any " kills."
However, one morning, after breakfast, one of our semi-
savage neighbours came running to the camp to report
that he had seen a tiger early that morning, going into a
cave at the end of a ravine about a mile from his village.
His information was most circumstantial, ending with
the statement that he had left his brother perched up on a
tree, watching the entrance to the cave. Nevertheless,
our recent experiences having made us somewhat sceptical,
we decided on sending the old shikari to test the man's
story. A couple of hours later he returned accompanied
by our informant, or " Khubburriah," the latter bathed
in tears and piteously appealing, alternately to his god and
to ourselves, to assist him in his trouble, from which we
inferred that his information had probably turned out to
be false, and that the old man, who on such occasions was
inclined to be irascible, had been correcting him.

44 Well, Kamsin, and so you have been sold again, I see,"
said Miles, in colloquial Hindustani, which he spoke as
fluently as a native. The old shikari did not reply at once,
but shaking his head solemnly, we could tell from the
expression on his face that he had some serious information
to impart.

44 No, Sahib," he replied at length. 44 The 4 Khubbur '
is true enough, this time, for we heard the tiger in the cave,
eating the 4 Khubburriah's ' brother ! " Then, having
delivered himself of this startling information, none the
less appalling for the brevity with which it was imparted,
he proceeded to relate the rest of the story.

217

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

It appeared that on arrival at the tree indicated by
his companion they had found it untenanted, but scattered
all about were fragments of clothing, and splashes of blood
on a recently made track leading to the cave. They were
following these up, when a low growl from within, followed
by a sound as of the crunching of bones, warned them to
desist, and knowing that what they had suspected had
actually occurred, also that the tiger might come out at
any moment and attack them, they had hurriedly retreated
from the spot, the old shikari quite satisfied that " this
time," as he had just so laconically observed, " the Khubbur
was correct." With this evidence, as gruesome as it was
conclusive, of the tiger's presence in the cave, we lost no
time in making arrangements to attack it, for, apart from
the natural inclination to avenge the poor man's death,
we felt that, unless destroyed at once, the brute would now
probably become a man-eater, as very often happens when
once a tiger has tasted human flesh.

Unfortunately, from the description Kamsin gave us,
the nature of the country and jungle round the cave was
such that elephants could not be employed, hence we had
no option but to try and shoot the beast on foot, an ex-
tremely hazardous undertaking, or, as Miles suggested,
climb on to a tree and watch the entrance of the cave till
the animal came out.

The last seeming to be the plan most likely to succeed,
we adopted it at once, and set out for the cave, accompanied
by the shikari, carrying a spare rifle and a lantern, as it
would probably be dark before we could get back. The
rifle we took in case it might be wanted, but we intended
using our shot guns, which were made to carry ball, such
weapons being more handy and quite as effective against
soft-skinned animals as a rifle when used at close quarters,
as we knew would be the case in the present instance.

We started on an elephant, but after passing the village,
were compelled to abandon it, for the country beyond was
intersected with ravines and " nullahs," or dry water
courses, too broad for the animal to step over, and too deep
to be negotiated by elephants in any other way, However,
we had not far to go on foot, and finally reached the cave
about two hours before sunset.
218

AWAITING THE TIGER

We approached the place cautiously, and concealing
ourselves carefully behind some thick bushes, listened
intently for some time ; finally, hearing no sounds within
the cave, Kamsin crept up to the entrance, where he found
some footprints of the tiger, leading back into the jungle.
These he pronounced to be quite fresh, and hence was
of opinion that the animal, having satisfied its hunger for
the time, had gone out to drink and was unlikely to return
for some hours, but advised our selecting a tree and climbing
into it at once to avoid unnecessary risks.

Our choice was soon made, for the only tree of any
size growing near the cave was the one already mentioned,
and into this we climbed as speedily as we could, for, to
confess the truth, neither of us were inclined to remain
down below with the chance of the tiger returning any
moment. Selecting two of the lower branches, about
eight feet off the ground, we took up our positions, facing
the jungle and entrance to the cave, while the old shikari,
who was lighter, and wonderfully active for his age,
climbed higher up into the tree. Here, in comparative
security, as we thought, we proceeded to examine our
surroundings, presently to make the disquieting discovery
that so far from being safe, we were in a more dangerous
position than the man who had been killed, for on a branch
above our heads, we now found remnants of his clothing
and some deep scratches on the bark evidently made by the
tiger's claws.

From these facts then, it was alarmingly evident that,
seated where we were, the tiger, if disposed to be aggressive,
could pluck us off our perches much more easily than it
had taken its late victim, especially if it should return
after dark and steal up to the tree unseen. On the other
hand, there was unfortunately no way of bettering our
position, for the branches higher up were, as I have already
hinted, too light to support our weight, and there was no
other tree standing sufficiently near to command the
entrance to the cave. In these circumstances the only
alternative was to abandon the undertaking and return
to the tents, while there was still sufficient light ; but this
we were, naturally, not inclined to do, for however perilous
the enterprise might be, the destruction of this beast was,

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

for reasons already stated, imperatively necessary. There
being no question, then, of giving up the attempt, it only
remained for us to protect ourselves as well as we could and,
above all, to provide against any possibility of being
taken unawares, and for this we trusted entirely to our
old man, knowing well that with his keen sense of hearing,
no animal would be likely to approach us unheard.

So long as the daylight lasted we felt comparatively
safe, but after we had been watching for an hour the light
began to fail, and soon — with the rapidity with which night
comes on in the East — we were buried in a darkness so
profound that I could not even see the gun I held. True
we had the lantern, but, for obvious reasons, dared not
light it, hence for two long hours we sat as in a vault,
vainly trying to pierce the gloomy depths around us,
and imagining every moment that we had heard some
movement in the jungle.

It was a terrible ordeal, rendered none the easier for
the knowledge, that though we could not see it, the tiger
was possibly close at hand and might at any instant detect
our presence and attack us, for we knew that these animals
can see as well by night as day.

220

CHAPTER XXX

At length, to our indescribable relief, the moon, whose
appearance we had been eagerly awaiting, rose slowly
above the distant tree-tops, and presently broad beams
of silvery light lit up the space between us and the cave,
gradually extending till they had reached the belt of heavy
jungle to our front, whose impenetrable gloom not even the
moon had power to illumine. This jungle, growing in a
horse-shoe like formation, now resembled a wall of coal
black foliage, and seated, as we were, in the centre of an
imaginary line, connecting its extremities, we commanded
every portion of the curve. Hence, we had no longer
any fear of being taken by surprise. Nevertheless, it was
still necessary to be on the alert, since between us and the
jungle there lay a broad band of inky darkness, as impene-
trable as the depths beyond, by which the tiger might
approach perilously near before coming under the influence
of the moonlight. However, relying on the old shikari to
detect any such stealthy movements, we confined our
attention to watching for the beast, ready to fire the moment
it emerged into the light, trusting thus to kill the brute
outright, or at any rate to cripple it and so prevent its
charging.

We had sat thus about an hour, with our eyes fixed upon
the jungle, scanning it continuously from one end to the
other, when I felt a touch upon my shoulder, and looking
quickly up, saw the old man pointing with his finger to the
centre of the jungle.

" Take care, the tiger is coming, Sahib," he said in
a low whisper. And looking in the direction he was pointing,
I thought I heard a faint rustling in the jungle. Miles
had evidently heard it too, for he had slightly altered his
position and brought his gun up to the shoulder.

Presently we heard another movement in the jungle,

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

then a sound as of the footsteps of some heavy animal,
treading softly and cautiously, but evidently coming
slowly in our direction, as we could tell by the sounds,
drawing nearer every moment and by the breathing, or
rather cat-like purring of the beast, which was now dis-
tinctly to be heard.

Suddenly these sounds and movements ceased, from
which I inferred that the animal had emerged from the
jungle and now, concealed within the deep shadow that it
cast, was probably reconnoitring before advancing towards
the cave; or that it had perhaps already seen us, and
imagining itself discovered, was contemplating a retreat.
But, as the sequel proved, I was wrong in both these
suppositions, for while with my eyes still fixed on the spot
whence last I had heard its movements, my attention was
again attracted by Kamsin, who, leaning eagerly forward,
with one hand clasped tightly round a branch, was pointing
with the other to a distant portion of the jungle.

I looked in this direction when there, to my amazement,
was the tiger, which, with lowered head and stealthy steps,
was creeping along the left extremity of the horse-shoe,
partially concealed by the dark shadow, and evidently
attempting to gain the cave unnoticed through a piece of
detached jungle on our left.

The beast, as I had imagined, had apparently detected
us on the tree, and finding its direct passage thus inter-
cepted had, with the cunning of its race, adopted this
circuitous but seemingly safe route, and but for the sharp
eyes of the shikari would probably have succeeded in
passing us unseen.

We waited till it had come well within range and to
a small strip of moonlight in the open between the two
jungles where, for a moment, it would be fully exposed to
our view. As it reached this opening, it broke into a
gallop, but we had anticipated this manoeuvre and both
fired at once, the two shots sounding like a cannon on the
stillness of the night. The beast fell on to its head and
partially rolled over, but picking itself up quickly, came
charging furiously down upon us with a roar, which shook
the ground and the tree on which we were seated to its
very roots. We fired again, but apparently without any
222

A REAL MAN-EATER

effect, and were hurriedly attempting to reload when
another shot rang out overhead, and to our infinite relief
we saw the beast roll over, this time sorely wounded, as
we could tell by its futile efforts to get up.

It was, of course, the old shikari who had fired so
opportunely, and had thus probably saved our lives, or at
least a severe mauling from the infuriated beast, which
in another moment would have swept us off our perches,
for, with our guns still unloaded, we were helpless to resist.

We discovered now that with the forethought so
characteristic of the man, he had guessed there might be
trouble ; so, having previously loaded the weapon, the old
man had been carefully watching the proceedings, ready
to assist us the moment the necessity arose, and quick to
grasp it when it came, had fired just in the nick of time.

Meanwhile Miles, with a bullet through its brain, had
mercifully put an end to the tiger's struggles, and when we
got down to examine it, we found the last bullet had struck
the animal in the chest and breaking up inside had
shattered the heart and lungs.

It was a remarkably fine shot, considering the pace
the beast was going, and as compared with our last two,
one of which had missed completely, and the other merely
grazed. The two first were, however, better placed,
though neither well enough to stop the beast.

The tiger proved to be an exceptionally fine one,
measuring nearly nine feet ten in length and massively
proportioned, and we shuddered to think of the number
of human beings it might, and probably would, have killed
and eaten, had we not so fortunately cut short its career.
However, while discussing this gruesome subject, and
congratulating ourselves on having secured a proved man-
eater as a trophy, it suddenly occurred to us that as we had
neither elephants nor men to carry the carcase to the camp,
we must either watch by it all night, or leave it where it
lay with the chance of its being eaten up by jackals, or some
other beast that should happen to come that way. In
this dilemma we appealed as usual to the old shikari,
thinking he might have something to suggest, but he was
evidently as much puzzled as ourselves. However, after
considering for a while, an idea seemed to strike him, but

223

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

before replying, he walked up to the cave, where we saw
him examining the entrance. He had taken the lantern
with him, and now lighting it, disappeared through the
opening and was apparently inspecting the interior, as we
could hear him moving round it, and caught occasional
glimpses of the light. Presently he came out again,
carrying a " Dao," or kind of chopper, used by natives for
cutting jungle, and from the satisfied look on his face, we
knew he had solved the problem as to the disposal of the
tiger.

" There is plenty of room in there, Sahib, for the
carcase," he said, pointing to the cave, " and with this
1 Dao ' that I found there we can cut branches to close the
entrance." The " Dao," he told us later, he had found
still grasped in the hand of the man whose remains were
scattered all about the cave.

" And now, if the Sahibs can help me," he continued,
" we will drag the body there." But to move this
ponderous mass of flesh, we had first to fashion two stout
poles, then, using these as levers, we rolled it gradually
to the entrance, whence, with our united efforts, dragged
it inch by inch inside.

The interior was about twelve feet in diameter,
apparently a natural excavation with a rough, uneven
floor, made up of rock and sand, on which, strewed here
and there, were the ghastly, dismembered portions of what
had once been a human being. The head and face, though
severed from the body, were intact, with an agonized
expression on the features which haunted me for days,
telling, as they did more eloquently than in words, of the
agony and terror the man must have endured when seized
and dragged inside the cave. The sight was not one to
linger over, neither to be easily forgotten, and even the
old shikari — to whom such sights were possibly more
familiar — was visibly moved, and we could hear him
muttering under his breath, cursing the dead beast for the
evil it had wrought.

Having dragged the tiger in, as far as we were able,
we left it surrounded by the ghastly wreckage it had caused,
little thinking at the time — if to the brute creation is given
the power to think — how quickly retribution was to follow.
224

CANNIBALISM AMONG TIGERS

Such, at any rate, was the thought that flashed across
my brain as we hurried from the spot, anxious to quit a
scene so harrowing to the mind, and softened only by the
fact that we had so promptly avenged the cruel deed.

The closing of the entrance proved a longer task than
we had imagined, and while assisting in the work we
wondered why the fence was being so solidly constructed,
since, as we supposed at the time, it was intended only
to keep out any jackals that might scent the carcase within.
But we were presently enlightened, for as the old shikari
put in the last stake, a good-sized branch, sharpened at
one end and driven into the ground, we heard him murmur-
ing his approval of the job. His comments, mingled as
they were with every abusive epithet he could think of,
against all tigers as a class, and this one in particular, are
not fit for reproduction, but the gist of his remarks was to
the effect that no tiger, however hungry or powerful it
might be, could break through this enclosure.

" What," I exclaimed, as the drift of this soliloquy,
stripped of its vituperative embroideries, dawned upon
my mind, " would one tiger eat another ? " My question
producing a similar one from Miles, who, despite his long
experience of the jungles, seemed equally amazed.

The old man looked at us a moment as if in commisera-
tion of our ignorance, then repeating his apprehension as
to the danger of our trophy being devoured by a tiger,
went on to tell us how when once out shooting with a
former master, he had seen this very thing being done.

" The Sahib and I were out on a small elephant in the
forest," he began, " and came suddenly upon a tiger which
gave us much trouble, but after it had eaten many bullets,
it was killed, and as the camp was close at hand we left it
lying there and hurrying back sent out another elephant
and some coolies to bring the carcase home. Presently
the elephant returned and the Mahout told the Sahib that
the tiger had come to life again, and was at that moment
eating some animal it had killed. The Sahib was much
annoyed, thinking the man had made up this story because
he was afraid of going into the jungle, and mounting the
elephant, said he would go himself. I got up behind him
with the cartridges and rifle and we started off at once,

Q 225

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

but when we came near the place where we left the carcase,
the Sahib and I got down, and walking very carefully along
the track made by the elephants, we saw a tiger, as the
Mahout had said, bending over something it was eating.
The animal was standing sideways, and being too busy
with its meal had not seen us, and so the Sahib, putting
up his rifle quickly, fired two bullets through its head. It
fell at once, without a sound, on to the carcase below it,
and lay quite still, but we remained concealed in the jungle
till quite certain it was dead. After a few minutes, seeing
it did not move, we walked up to it, the Sahib in front
holding his loaded rifle ready ; but the animal was now dead,
and lying hidden beneath it was the half-eaten body of the
other tiger we had killed."

This story, told in the old man's quaint vernacular,
with many a gesticulation, was the first we had either of
us heard of a tiger eating its own kind, though I have since
come to learn that such instances of cannibalism amongst
tigers have occasionally been heard of.

However, with the strong barricade we had constructed,
there seemed little danger this time of any such attempt
being successfully accomplished, and as there was nothing
now to keep us in the jungle, we set out on our homeward
journey.

The moon, now well up in the heavens, was of little
use to us as a luminant, for the most part of our route lay
through a tangled jungle meeting overhead where, except for
the light shed by our lantern, the darkness was as dense as
in a tunnel.

The manner of our going was ordered by Kamson,
whose long experience of night-travel in the forests had
taught him how best to make use of our useful and most
protective weapon, to wit, the lighted lantern. Carrying
this himself he marched a step or two in front, swinging
it continually like a pendulum to increase the compass
of its rays, so that any animal in our path might take it
for an advancing forest fire and keep out of our way.
To add to the deception he had improvised a kind of
rattle out of a bamboo, split into four quarters, and rattling
this from time to time as he proceeded, produced a sound
not unlike the crackling noise a jungle fire would make.
226

THE TENTS AT LAST

This combined precaution, so ingeniously conceived, while
doubtless tending greatly to diminish the dangers to
which we were exposed, considerably increased our con-
fidence in our guide, to whom there was, seemingly, no
difficulty too impossible for his ingenuity to master.

Walking, as I have said, a pace or two behind him, with
our guns loaded and ready for instant use, we kept a sharp
look-out on either side, for, wild elephants excepted, this
portion of the jungle was infested with dangerous beasts
of every kind from tigers to wild boar and bear. Of these,
the latter was the animal we had most reason to fear,
being admittedly the most dangerous and aggressive of
them all, and had we been so unfortunate as to have met
one on the path, no make-believe jungle fire or crackling
noises would have prevented it attacking us. Happily
we were spared any such perilous encounter, and finally
reached the tents shortly after midnight, to find a gang of
villagers and our servants, headed by my orderly, preparing
to come in search of us.

Next morning, on awaking, we found that our untiring
old shikari had already started for the jungle with a large
party of villagers, to fetch the tiger home, and while seated
at breakfast they returned with the carcase slung on to a
bamboo, and followed by the whole village, men, women
and children, all shouting with delight and showering
blessings on the Sahibs for having avenged their comrade's
death.

227

CHAPTER XXXI

The next day we moved a portion of our camp further
in the direction of the hills, to one of the frontier outposts
or stockades already mentioned which I had come out to
inspect. The journey was a short one, barely ten miles
in length, but being through the densest jungle in the
district, occupied as many hours, for after the first mile
or two there was neither path nor track, and as we were
now outside forest limits there were no fire-lines we could
follow : thus the elephants had to advance as best they
could, boring a passage for themselves and occasionally
breaking down young trees when such stood in their way.
As we plunged deeper into this seeming endless jungle,
our difficulties gradually increased, necessitating frequent
deviations to avoid some impenetrable barrier across our
line of march, till we marvelled how the Mahouts could
regain the right direction. This jungle, though composed
of much the same materials as others I have described,
was different in that it was considerably higher and in-
finitely denser than any we had yet been in, the trees
being larger and the undergrowth and grass heavier in
proportion.

Bordering on this remote and sparsely populated
portion of the district, this jungle had probably never
been traversed by man, for the ordinary route to the
outpost was by a longer and more open path, skirting
the borders of the forest some distance to our right. Later
on we came across some paths, or tracks, worn by con-
stant use to the smoothness of a road made by human
hands, but these highways of the jungle were the work
of the huge denizens of these wilds, elephants and rhinoceri,
in their seemingly aimless wanderings, in which such
animals appear to spend their nights. Some of these
tracks were fresh, but most of them had apparently not
228

THE KITCHEN RANGE

been used for days, and happening to come upon one of
the latter, leading in the direction we were going, we
followed along it for some distance, making considerable
progress while it lasted, but it soon turned off at right
angles, leaving us again to fight the tangled jungle.

The journey was an exciting one throughout, for we
might, at any moment, have come across a herd of elephants,
or worse still, a solitary bull or " rogue." Fortunately we
were traversing the jungle across its length, with many
miles of it to the left of us, possibly even denser than the
portion we were in, where the larger animals would more
probably be likely to be lying up during the day. Be
this as it might, we, happily, met with nothing more
formidable than a sambhar which we both fired at and
missed, and finally made our camping ground about three
in the afternoon, tired out and hungry, but with no imme-
diate prospect of a meal, for the fowls that were to furnish
it were still clucking in their basket on our elephant. How-
ever, while the latter were being unloaded and preparations
in progress for the erection of the tents our temporary
cook with an energy much to be commended, being pro-
bably as tired as ourselves, had set to work at once to
construct his kitchen range. We watched him with
interested attention, as with a small iron instrument
called a " Khurpi," he made several square excavations
in the ground, and kneading the earth thus obtained
into a paste, erected a horse-shoe shaped earth-work
round each of these little squares which he filled with fire-
wood and setting them alight left the walls to bake into
stability. His range was now complete and ready to
cook the dinner of several courses, with which we were
presently to be served, a meal that we knew from past
experience would be equally as good as if cooked in the
ordinary way. But over the rest of the proceedings it
is best to draw a veil, nor did we stay to witness them,
but from the sudden cessation later of the cackling in the
basket, followed by a sound of chopping, we knew that
the fowls were undergoing a process of transformation and
would presently re-appear in the form of " eespachkok,"
and " biftek," the native chef's equivalent for spatchcock
and beefsteak.

229

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

The unloading of the elephants being completed and
with marvellous celerity considering how carefully each
package had been secured, the tents were soon erected, for
we had brought only two, both " shuldaris " easy of
erection, one for ourselves and the other for our attendants.

Within a couple of hours of our arrival, every peg
had been driven home, the guy ropes and scores of lesser
fastenings all properly secured, and the tents ready for
occupation, even to the bedsteads which with the bedding
were made up for the night, and, an hour later, we were
seated in cosy comfort round a table by the camp fire,
discussing the appetizing dishes before mentioned.

Meanwhile the men who had thus loyally ministered
to our comforts, though tired and hungry as ourselves,
were without rest or food, and with no prospect of either
till late into the night and then only a scanty meal off
rice and the hard ground for a bed was all that they could
look for. But this aptitude for rising to the occasion, so
to speak, is one of the good qualities possessed by Indian
servants as a class who, though often troublesome and
annoying in their performance of ordinary duties, can
generally be relied on in moments of emergency, when
the comfort of their masters depends upon their zeal.

Our camp on this occasion situated as it was in the heart
of that huge forest, far removed from any highway leading
to civilization, was as wild and weird a one as the most
adventurously-minded traveller or sportsman could desire.
But it was not till late in the night, while seated round the
fire surrounded on all sides by a wall of dense jungle some
twenty feet in height that we fully realized our position
and how perilous it would be should a herd of elephants,
attracted by our own, come tramping through the camp
as was not improbable.

The bare possibility of such a catastrophe kept us awake
for half the night, not so much on account of the danger
to ourselves, for we should probably have time to take
refuge in the outpost close at hand, but for our elephants,
which though secured to trees with chains would be sure
to make desperate efforts to break loose, and should any
succeed in escaping into the forest would be lost to us
for ever. Fortunately, however, the night went by without
230

PREPARATIONS FOR A DURBAR

any such disaster taking place, and although some of the
Mahouts declared they had heard the sound of elephants
trumpeting in the distance, none came sufficiently near
the camp to cause any panic amongst our beasts. Never-
theless, our fears had not been groundless, for on inspecting
the outpost later, I was told that shortly before our arrival
it had been twice raided by these animals on two successive
nights, and it was only after much trouble and expenditure
of blank cartridges, that the men had succeeded in driving
them away. As some proof of the accuracy of this state-
ment, I may add that this was one of the buildings referred
to in a previous chapter as being annually destroyed by
wild elephants in the rainy seasons, and having to be re-
constructed every year as provided for in the " budget
grants " I had seen. However, on the last occasion of their
visit the means employed to drive the beasts away had
evidently had some effect, if not corporally, at any rate
on their minds, for during our three days' halt at this camp
we saw nothing of these animals either by night or day.

With the migratory habits of these beasts, they had
probably deserted this portion of the country altogether
for the time, otherwise we must have come across them in
our various journeys through the surrounding jungles to
inspect the frontier pillars, which formed part of our duties,
while halting at this camp. These duties left us little time
for sport, nor would it have been easy to obtain any, for
notwithstanding the abundancy of game, the jungle was
far too extensive and too dense to admit of its being beaten
with the small number of elephants we possessed.

In the meantime our main camp with the old shikari
in charge was being conveyed on rough, local buffalo
carts to a military post at another point on the frontier,
where a " Durbar " was shortly to be held, at which Miles,
as political officer, was to present the annual subsidy to a
representative of the Rajah of Bhutan. Our journey
through the forest to this spot occupied the whole of one
day, being somewhat longer than the previous one and
with even denser jungles to traverse. Moreover, we had
to make a long detour when half-way to avoid a herd of
elephants which our animals scented fortunately just
in time.

231

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

It was late when we arrived at our destination, the
last mile of the journey being made in almost total dark-
ness, which seemed to increase the terror our elephants had
shown since scenting the wild herd, for we could feel the
one we rode trembling from time to time as, in concert
with the others, it gave expression to its feelings in sounds
like low thunder rumbling in the distance. Not that we
were in any better case ourselves, for during the last
mile of this perilous and long-to-be-remembered journey,
the suspense and anxiety we endured were not to be
expressed in words, and when at length we emerged from
the jungle and saw the lights of the cantonment twinkling
in the distance and our own camp fire blazing cheerfully
close at hand, we gave vent to our pent-up feelings in a
cheer, which so startled the elephants that they finished
the remainder of the journey at a run.

Nor were we disposed to curb the exuberance of our
spirits on arrival at the camp, so different in appearance
to the one we had arrived at a few days before, for here,
instead of a bare patch of ground were our three com-
fortable tents all ready, erected and furnished, and servants
awaiting our pleasure, amongst them, the most important
functionary at the moment, the " Khonsamah," with the
welcome information that dinner was prepared and would
be served in ten minutes. This was a pleasing change
after our recent uncomfortable experiences, as well as an
excellent example of the smooth and seamy sides of Indian
official life, which has to be taken as it comes, but to men
with properly balanced minds can be made equally enjoyable
in whichever aspect it presents itself.

The next day we visited the cantonment which was on
an elevated plateau about a mile from our camp, a strate-
getic position held by the wing of a native regiment in the
event of any disturbance arising on the frontier, and where
the Durbar was to take place the following afternoon.
This function, the object of which has been already briefly
stated, is probably the quaintest existent ceremony that
any officials of the Empire are required to perform, hence
some explanation of its origin will doubtless be of interest
to the reader.

Though officially styled a " Durbar," to give some
232

A DURBAR DESCRIBED

dignity to the proceedings, it is, in fact, a mere meeting
of two state officials one of whom, the British, hands over
to the other, the representative of Bhutan, a sum of 50,000
rupees * ostensibly as compensation for territory acquired
but practically as a reward for good behaviour during the
past year, that is to say for having abstained from raiding
across the frontier, which in former years was a favourite
pastime with the Bhutanese. This grant, or subsidy as
it is called, is received by an official termed a " Zimpen "
or chamberlain of the Rajah, or rather " Deb " Rajah of
Bhutan, for this extraordinary country is governed nomin-
ally by two rulers termed respectively the " Deb " and
M Dhurrum " Rajahs. The latter, however, is only a
ruler in name, so far as temporal power is concerned, being
really the head " Lama " or Pope and as such head of the
church, consequently held in much reverence by the people
and believed by them to be of Divine origin. At the
present moment the office happens to be vacant, the last
incumbent being defunct and no one of sufficient sanctity
having as yet been found to take his place.

With this necessary, though I fear, somewhat dry
digression, I will now endeavour to describe the strange
proceedings, which in my capacity of a kind of police
A.D.C. to Miles, I took part in on the day.

Some hours before the time appointed, the treasure,
consisting of fifty wooden boxes containing one thousand
rupees each, were arranged as ornamentally as rough
wooden cases hooped with rusty iron bands could be,
within a Shamianah or " Durbar tent " carpeted with red
cloth, while behind them, less conspicuously displayed,
were two cases of Scotch whisky, which tradition had
ordained should form part of the presentation, but of a
less formal nature. In the open space before the Shamianah
and forming a broad lane, was a company of the regiment,
drawn up in two lines, facing inwards, and beyond them,
the police guard, similarly aligned, their dark blue jumpers
and white " Dhotis " f blending pleasantly with the

* This sum has, I believe, been recently doubled.

f The loin cloth worn by natives of all clashes, and adopted as part of
the uniform of the native police.

233

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

scarlet tunics of the sepoys. Behind these rows of glittering
bayonets came the usual rabble, amongst them various
hangers-on of the " Zimpen," clad in strange parti-coloured
clothing made of blanketing, who, looking on in open-
mouthed amazement seemed much interested in the
proceedings. Further inside the Shamianah, behind the
artistic array of treasure boxes and whisky were placed
a row of chairs, two of these in the centre, gaudy fauteuils
borrowed for the occasion being reserved for Miles and the
honoured guest, while the rest were to be occupied by the
commanding and other officers, the native magistrate, the
interpreter and myself. Meanwhile, the Envoy, who
with his following had arrived the night before, was housed
in the " Bhutia-Busti," a village situated on a hill over-
looking the cantonment with which it was connected by a
steep and winding path, the whole of which was visible
from below.

234

CHAPTER XXXII

The ceremony was fixed for two o'clock and all preliminary
arrangements being completed we were awaiting the
arrival of our visitor, when in the direction of the village
there arose a sound so closely resembling the cries of a
pack of jackals, that for a moment believing it had emanated
from these animals, I questioned the interpreter. The
latter, himself a Bhutanese but speaking English fluently
however, soon enlightened me.

44 It is the Zimpen's followers," he replied, " who are
howling like jackals to show how he, as the representative
of the Rajah, is as powerful and terrifying to them as the
tiger is to the beasts, whose cries they are imitating."

This extraordinary method of expressing their appre-
ciation of the awe-inspiring qualities of their sovereign,
was, nevertheless well in keeping with the nature and
appearance of these semi-savage people, for presently as
the procession came into view, looking at it through the
glasses, I came to the conclusion that a more barbarous
retinue it would be difficult to imagine.

The cortege was headed by a score or two of soldiers (?),
armed with bows and arrows and clothed in striped
dressing-gown-like garments called " Bokus," reaching
to the knee, surmounted by a headdress seemingly made
of iron somewhat resembling in appearance a Balaclava
cap. Following these fantastically-arrayed soldiery came
the " Jackals," a hundred or more blanket-clad savages,
each seemingly trying to out-howl his neighbour and all
dancing or rather capering, presumably, to a measure played
by some musicians in their midst, but without regard as to
its time or tune. Occasionally some of them would stop
in their mad caperings to make a low obeisance, apparently
intended for some person or object in their rear, then
howling and jumping more frenziedly than before, run on

235

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

to resume their places in the pack. But soon as the pro-
cession came more fully into view we discerned the object
of this veneration, for about the centre of this elongated
crowd, zig-zagging down the hill, was a figure seated on a
mule, seemingly cross-legged and held up in that position
by men on each side of it. As they approached nearer,
I could see that the rider who was no less a personage than
the Zimpen himself, had no control over his steed, nor was
it intended that he should, for, as I learnt later, to guide
the beast himself would have been considered quite beneath
the dignity of one of such exalted rank.

When the head of the procession had reached the lane,
or guard of honour formed by the troops and police, it was
halted by the interpreter, acting as Master of the Ceremonies
who, dividing the men composing it into two bodies,
ranged them on either side, leaving the way clear for the
great man to advance. Presently the latter, still seated
on the mule and marshalled by the interpreter, was led
solemnly down the lane, the guard standing at attention
as he passed, and till he had reached the " Shamianah,"
where he was received by Miles, and then a strange thing
happened, which though considered a very necessary
detail, seemed to our Western notions a somewhat extra-
ordinary proceeding.

We had all risen to do honour to this Envoy ; Miles,
with head uncovered, was advancing to greet our august
visitor, when suddenly the men supporting him seized
the venerable representative of their sovereign by the arms
and legs and whisking him off the mule deposited their
burden on the seat reserved for him, to howls of acclamation
from his followers without. Meanwhile the victim of this
summary transhipment had uttered no sound except a
grunt, possibly involuntarily elicited, and after adjusting
his official head-gear, which his rapid transit through the
air had tilted rakishly to one side, sat staring stolidly
before him as if the subsequent proceedings interested him
not at all.

We saw now that he was a man considerably over middle
age and corpulent, with the strongly marked Mongolian
type of features common to his race, in fact, as to personal
appearances there was little to distinguish him from the
236

THE ZIMPEN

scores of his countrymen around except his attire, which
would need a Worth or Paquin to depict with the accuracy
it deserves. The reader must therefore picture to himself
this corpulent old gentleman, clothed in a long Kimona-
shaped garment of green and rose-pink silk, confined at
the waist by some invisible contrivance supporting a long
two-edged sword with silver hilt and scabbard, both
thickly set with turquoise and other precious stones.
Another garment, also of silk, but peculiar as to cut,
encased his lower limbs and over these were drawn a
pair of white-felt moccassin-boots, such as worn by Chinese
magnates, and profusely ornamented with many-coloured
embroideries. But the most extraordinary portion of his
attire, inclusive of the quaint gold and turquoise chaplets
and other strange jewellery he wore, was his hat, which
though seemingly fulfilling its proper functions in that it
occupied the usual place, had apparently no concavity
for the head, but merely rested on it as a juggler balances
a dinner-plate on a stick, and kept in position only by a
thong tied round the chin. Its shape, too, was unique,
the brim being some eighteen inches in diameter and
quite flat with a conical erection in the centre to represent
the crown, the whole composed of wicker-work, trimmed
and lined with silk of gaudy hue.

But to proceed, the stolid silence maintained by our
visitor not being conducive to the progress of business,
the interpreter now approached him, and after much
" kow-towing," ventured to suggest that the ceremony
should commence, finally eliciting another grunt or two
evidently intended for approval, for Miles and the rest of
us were now formally introduced. After these formalities,
the proceedings took more active shape, beginning with
the distribution of silken scarves which an attendant, or
A.D.C. of the Silent One, produced from some mysterious
hiding-place within his ample " Boku." These scarves
being placed over our shoulders in number and quality
according to our respective rank and importance, the
treasure boxes were now formally presented, and the
contents of one having been counted, carried off by some
of the following to the temporary residence of the Envoy.

Several baskets of oranges and a few squares of coloured

237

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

silks were now brought in and set down in front of us. thus
completing the strictly official portion of the proceedings,
these offerings being presumably intended as symbolical
of the quid pro quo element usually considered necessary
on such occasions.

The two cases of whisky, up to this moment purposely
ignored or only casually referred to, were now produced,
and with remarkable effect on the hitherto impassive
countenance of the Envoy, who, having officiated in this
capacity before, was evidently acquainted with the nature
of the contents. Bending eagerly forward he seemed,
as Miles observed in a whisper, "to be examining the
brand " on the cases, then turning to one of his attendants,
delivered himself of quite a long oration, obviously expres-
sive of his approval and of the excellence and valuable
nature of the offering, as we could tell from the pleased
expression on his features, and the care with which the
individual addressed handled the precious cases, while
cording them for transit up the hill. Having seen them
carefully bestowed on the backs of two stalwart Bhutias,
the whilom silent plenipotentiary now waxed exceedingly
loquacious, not to say inquisitive, asking many questions
as to our names and rank, and the number of children we
respectively possessed, the fact that some of us might be
single being evidently outside his calculations. However,
as question and answer had both to be interpreted, it took
some time to explain these little details. At length finding
his questions becoming somewhat embarrassing, Miles,
as politely as was possible, brought the interview to a close
and the great man, shaking hands with each of us in turn
finally departed, going as he had come, accompanied by the
jackals and the " band." The latter, during the interview,
had been standing crowding round, thus giving us an
opportunity of examining their instruments, which were
as extraordinary in shape as in the sounds they produced,
and on closer inspection proved to be made of human arm
and thigh bones, but how obtained we were unable to dis-
cover.

The next morning our friend, less gorgeously apparelled
and accompanied by the interpreter and the usual atten-
dants, paid us an informal visit at our camp, where, after
238

: '-

- ' ' _T

55 *

< „

•'•V:*?i»vl»

AN INFORMAL VISIT

the usual greetings, we regaled him with some excellent
but extremely potent Marischino, of which Miles possessed
a special brand. However, his hospitality cost him some-
what dear, for so marked was our guest's appreciation of
the beverage, that it was not until the bottle was what in
naval parlance is termed a " dead marine," that he showed
any inclination to depart. He was also much interested
in my Winchester repeater, and had I risen to the occasion,
would have probably offered half the " subsidy " to
become its proud possessor. As it was, I had to promise
to procure one for him when I next went to Calcutta.
His visit lasted quite an hour and when, at length, forgetful
of his dignity, he rose to take his leave, the two attendant
satellites, horrified at his temporary forgetfulness in
placing his feet upon the ground, a lapse possibly due
to the Marischino, promptly seized and bore him to the
mule.

This was the last we saw of the potentate, for early
the next morning we left for Alipur, the headquarters of
this portion of the district, and journeying along a broad
highroad, through miles of dense jungle, finally reached
the half-way Rest House, where we halted for the night.
Although in the very heart of this huge forest, this spot
was, and had been for generations, inhabited by men whose
ancestors had doubtless when they conquered it, fought
many a desperate battle with the original possessors, the
four-footed tenants of these wilds and were even now
frequently exposed to their incursions. This settlement
or village, for such it had now grown to be, had originally
borne the somewhat curious sounding name of Rajah-
bhatkhowa. Three separate words, which as time went
on were eventually reduced to two and the whole converted
to " Bhatkhowa," the name by which the place is known
to this day. The circumstances, however, to which it owed
its name and origin are so exceedingly curious that I am
tempted to relate them, even at the risk of being sus-
pected of inventing though as a fact the story is one
well known in the district and generally admitted to be
true.

It appears that in days gone by, the then reigning
Rajah of the territory now known as Cooch-Behar, at that

239

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

period apparently abutting on to Bhutan, was on one
occasion captured by these people and retained a prisoner
for some years. Finally, however, he had managed to
escape and after wandering many days in the dense jungles
had eventually reached the spot referred to, where he came
upon a large body of his subjects, out on a hunting expedi-
tion. This joyful and wholly unexpected event was
celebrated with much pomp on the spot, the festivities
ending, as is customary with natives, in a feast consisting
chiefly of rice, the favourite food of the people of Bengal,
but which at that period was practically unknown in
Bhutan. The people, fully aware of this fact, and now
seeing their restored monarch thoroughly enjoying this
long unaccustomed food, were delighted. " Dekhen, Dek-
hen Rajah bhat khowa," (Look, look the Rajah has eaten
rice again), they shouted with one accord, till the forest
resounded with their cries. And thus it came about that
this spot, being ever after referred to in these terms,
finally became known as Rahjabhatkhowa. The legend
gave an added interest to a spot already full of fascination
from its situation, and as we sat listening to this story
told us by Kamsin we pictured to ourselves how infinitely
wilder must have been the scene of this sylvan banquet
compared with the comfort almost amounting to luxury
of the present surroundings, and yet, beyond the limits
of the village scarce two square acres in extent, the forest
was probably still as wild as in those long gone days. The
night, however, passed without any sound or movement
in the forest, which, except for the occasional bell-like note
of a sambhur calling to its mate, might have been as
devoid of anything with life as the depths of the Dead Sea.
With the first blush of dawn, we left this interesting spot,
reaching our destination shortly after mid-day.

It was now the height of the touring season, when not
only the officials of the district are on tour, but also heads
of all departments, the latter, not infrequently accom-
panied by some sporting notability in search of big game,
or that more dangerous and usually less agreeable individual,
the collector of material for one of those instructive volumes
embodying the author's views after six weeks' experience
of the country, as to how India and its people should be
240

TOURING MAGNATES

governed. Hence we were not surprised on arrival to find
two of these wandering magnates in possession of half
the Rest House, one of these, however, proved to be a man
named Keenan, the new conservator of forests, an old
chum of my friend Miles. The other was an annual cold
weather visitor to the district in the shape of a globe-
trotting enthusiast, one of whose objects in life seemed to
be the education and development of the natives, which
had earned for him the nickname of " the Professor," of
whom more anon.

The first two had not met since they had served together
as youngsters in the district many years before, for the
conservator, after a long period of service in Assam, had
only recently joined his present post. Both being keen
sportsmen, they had done much big-game shooting here in
days gone by, and consequently had many reminiscences in
common which they now recalled with all the keenness
of old sportsmen, discussing past achievements.

Meanwhile, Woods and myself, the latter as in duty
bound, being in attendance on his chief, listened with much
interest, not unmixed with envy, to these reminiscences of
a period when the district was evidently one vast menagerie
stocked with every kind of animal to be found in the
Indian jungles. Even the " Professor," who, despite his
most unsportsmanlike appearance, seemed quite fascinated
with these stories, and to have temporarily forgotten the
object of his visit, for leaving the village Pundit with
whom he had been discussing " Primary Education "
standing in the sun, he was now listening with wrapt
attention to these wondrous tales of sport. However,
as I learnt later, this learned individual was in fact a most
enthusiastic sportsman, or rather trophy-hunter, and,
albeit an exceedingly bad shot, had nevertheless managed
to secure many good heads and skins of animals which
he claimed to have slain himself, but most of which,
according to traditions of the district, had been shot by
his friends. Such extraordinary generosity puzzled me
considerably at the time, for Indian sportsmen as a class
are no less tenacious of their trophies than their confreres
in other portions of the globe, and it was not until I had
been out shooting in his company myself, that I discovered

K ' 241

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

how he had actually acquired them. His method was a
simple but exceedingly ingenious one, and though not to
be commended from a sportsman's point of view, yet
merits a description if only for the cleverness with which it
was conceived, as exemplified in the incident which occurred
a few days later.

242

CHAPTER XXXIIl

The village, or town of Aiipur, as Its Inhabitants preferred
i<> call it, where we were encamped, apart from its import-
ance officially, had ion;: been famous as the best sporting
centre in the district, bj reason of iis situation, being far
removed from civilization and on 1 1 1 < * borders <>f a forest
many miles in area. Less than twenty years before, the
.•.lie on which • i stood I lad i'< i ii a part of this huge jungli
which covered in those days all the eastern portion oi
the district lying between two might) mountain torrents,
which, during the raim season, wert often impossible to
cross. Hence the denizens of these wilds having up to
recent years suffered liiil<' molestation from man, theii
natural foe, had not onlj I • % « * I out their natural term of
life, but increasing and multiplying in proportion, were
siill in countless numbers. However, as time went on,
i he " Ifechis M and M Garos," I wo I ribes of rest iess, wander
ing aborigines invaded this jungle kingdom, and despite
Hi, resistance offered bj its wild inhabitants, involving
much loss of life and cattle, gradually advanced into its
dept hs, making clearings for I lnir temporary \ illagi •• a1 each
ii< h spot they moved to as I he) progressed.

The result of this continuous emigration was to ieave
patches of isolated jungle, round which in after years th<
11 Koches " and other races with iess nomadic tendencies
built their villages and eventually settled down, rearinj
large h< rds <>i cattle and engaging in agricultural pursuits.
n was the presence of these seemingl) isolated patches,
but which were in fact connected with the larger jungli
that made this neighbourhood so exceptionally favourabli
to sport, especially with regard to the camivora, which,
attracted by the village cattle, would leave their unassail
able forest st ronghold and take up i hi ir quai ters in I h

248

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

patches, whence when they " killed," they could be beaten
out with comparative facility.

Hence, when one morning Kamsin, who for the last
day or two, had been prowling round the villages in search of
information brought in the welcome news that a bullock
had been killed during the night, and dragged into a jungle
close at hand, we ordered the elephants at once in joyful
expectation of bagging a " forest tiger," which, according
to the traditions of the place, were supposed to be as huge
as they were fierce. On arrival at the jungle, we found it
was of considerable size and, as we expected, connected
with the forest, but fortunately only by an isthmus of high
grass about one hundred yards in width, across which the
elephants soon trampled down a lane or vista for the
howdahs, which were placed, concealed as much as possible,
within the portions left untouched.

The " Professor," as the honoured guest was given the
best place in the centre, with Miles and myself on one side
of him and Woods and Keenan on the other, each of us
having a howdah to ourselves. The beat was a long one
as the jungle was nearly a mile in length and apparently
very dense, thus a couple of hours passed before we heard
the elephants approaching, but their sounds had barely
reached us when I saw a slight movement in the jungle
immediately in front of me, followed a moment or two
later by three shots fired in quick succession, the first two
evidently " a right and left." From the position of the
smoke I could see that these shots had apparently been
fired from the central howdah, but they produced no
visible effects beyond a quicker movement of the jungle in a
direction at right angles to the first, as the animal, finding-
its exit barred, now galloped across the cover, seeking some
other outlet. The Professor fired again, but evidently
with no better success, as the animal continued its career
till it had reached a spot opposite the last howdah, occupied
by Keenan, where it seemed to stop so far as I could judge
from the sudden cessation of all movement.

Meanwhile the beating elephants had advanced more
than half-way through the jungle and were now noisily
proclaiming their discovery of the tiger. Yet the beast
244

3 to

A a

TROPHIES

lay close, giving no indication of its presence, till the beat
was nearly over, when suddenly I caught a glimpse of
its long, low body emerging stealthily from the extreme end
of the cover. The next moment two shots were fired from
Keenan's howdah, followed by a single one from Woods,
and then a regular fusilade by the Professor, who seemed to
let off every weapon he carried in his howdah. The tiger
spoke to Keenan's shots, but in the smoke that followed it
was impossible to tell what had actually occurred. However,
when this cleared, I could see the beast lying doubled up
in the trampled grass apparently quite dead, as well it
might be after all this heavy firing. Nevertheless, when
examining the carcase, two bullet holes were all that we
could find.

We examined the body again and again, for it seemed
almost inconceivable that of the ten shots fired in all, two
only had hit, but search as we might, except for these two
holes, there was not even a graze upon the skin, hence it
now became a question as to which of the three sportsmen
the trophies should be given. The Professor, however,
having fired the first four shots himself, declared he had
been the first to hit the beast, and now claimed the head
and skin, which, under the circumstances, seemed reasonable
enough. Unfortunately the other two had been out with
him before and knew he seldom hit anything he fired
at. Moreover, being apparently acquainted with his
methods they objected, suggesting that the bullets
should first be cut out and examined. To this the man
of learning readily agreed, little dreaming of the counter-
mine, which Keenan had secretly prepared for him, and
was presently to explode to the annihilation of his well-
laid plan, by which he had hitherto secured so many
trophies.

In the meantime, the Mahouts having loaded the
subject of dispute on to one of the pad-elephants, we
started on our way back to the bungalow, where, after the
animal had been skinned, we held a post-mortem on the
carcase. The wily old Professor, knowing he had fired off
every weapon he possessed, which included rifles of all
bores likely to have been used by the others, looked on
smilinglv, for in these circumstances, he knew that his

245

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

claim would not be easily disproved. But he had over-
looked a little weapon which Keenan had recently acquired,
to wit, a -303 Lee-Metford sporting carbine, carrying a
nickel-coated bullet, quite different to any other projectile
then in use, hence easily identified not only by its size
and shape, but for the metal sheathing.

We had all seen and examined this new rifle a day or
two before and were generally of opinion that the bore was
far too small for dangerous game, the Professor in particular
being loudest in his condemnation, referring to it contemp-
tuously as a pop-gun, wThich no sportsman would be rash
enough to use against a tiger. His feelings may therefore
be imagined when the old shikari, who was operating on
the carcase, extracted one bullet, then the other, both with
the base of their metal cases quite intact, and still adhering
to the lead, while the upper portions, stripped from the
bullet, and sharp as a razor's edge, stuck out at right
angles like the blades of a propeller.

" Impossible ! " he exclaimed at length, when he had
recovered from the shock. " It is impossible, I say," he
repeated, " for two such little bullets to have killed an
animal of this size," and declaring there must be another
wound told Kamsin to search again.

The old man did as he was ordered, but in an half-
hearted kind of way, as if he thought it was quite useless,
for we could hear him muttering to himself, " How can there
be three holes in the body when in the skin there are but
two ? " However, our friend was not to be put off, and
ignoring this very logical conclusion, now joined in the
investigation himself. The search, however, so far from
discovering any other wound, merely revealed the nature
of the other two, for in following the course of the two
bullets, it was found that they had evidently expanded on
striking, and, while still under the influence of the rifling,
had passed, revolving through the flesh, the razor-like edges
of the nickel, boring tunnels each almost two inches in
diameter.

With such conclusive evidence against him our trophy-
hunter could not well substantiate his claim, and to do him
justice, gave in with good grace, now extolling the new
weapon as loudly as he had recently condemned it, though
246

5 °

A PANIC

seemingly still ignorant of the purpose with which it had
been used. But apparently this had dawned upon him
later, for the next day when we were out after a leopard,
we noticed that he was more sparing of his ammunition
and moreover had only one gun and rifle in his howdah
instead of the huge battery he usually took out. However,
on this occasion, favoured by Dame Fortune, he made a
remarkably lucky shot ; for, firing in his usual hasty and
promiscuous fashion, one of his erratic missiles glancing
off a tree lodged in the leopard's brain, though but for
the tree being in the way it would probably have struck
Woods, who being in the original line of fire should, under
ordinary circumstances, have been perfectly safe.

After this further development of his methods there-
fore, we were more disinclined than ever to encourage the
Professor's taste for sport ; so pleading press of work as our
excuse we confined ourselves to partridge-shooting in
the evenings in the smaller grass jungles round the bunga-
low, as being under the circumstances a less perilous
pastime. But here our friend again managed to distinguish
himself, and, as Woods observed, went near to " making a
record bag," for on one occasion, when firing at a partridge
which rose at the extreme end of the line, he missed the
bird completely and instead peppered a beating elephant
and its Mahout with a charge of No. 6, most of it, provi-
dentially, expending itself on the tough hide of the animal.

This last performance following so quickly on the
other, however, created quite a panic amongst the Mahouts,
for callous as these men are, as a rule, to all ordinary risks
attending their dangerous profession, they are apt to be
easily demoralized by any incidents of the nature just
described, and not unreasonably so, since it is to the sports-
men in the howdah, that they look to protect them. Thus
we deemed it wiser to abandon all shooting for the time,
but unwilling to hurt his feelings told our dangerous
companion that there was nothing left to shoot. He
probably guessed the truth, but seemingly in no way
disconcerted resumed his old pursuit, which though less
dangerous to life did more damage in the end. From
early dawn to breakfast time and then again till sunset
he now occupied his time visiting the town and adjacent

247

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

villages, lecturing to the people on the inestimable benefits
to be derived from education, and explaining how, by
following his advice, the untutored rustic of to-day would
in course of time live to see his son occupying high positions
in the land, and so on, thus inculcating into the minds of
an hitherto contented people doctrines which could not
fail to be pernicious in effect. Fortunately, owing to his
limited knowledge of the language, not all he said was
understood, yet the salient points were doubtless taken in,
and with the mysterious wireless-like telegraphy of the
East would soon spread throughout the district to form
a subject for discussion and to sow the seeds of discontent.
Finally, led on by his ill-conceived enthusiasm, the mis-
guided philanthropist, not content with discoursing to
the villagers, extended his discourses to our servants and
camp followers, resulting in a somewhat amusing con-
troversy with our old man of the woods at which I happened
to be present.

One morning after breakfast, I had strolled down to the
far end of the compound, where the tiger and leopard
skins were pegged out to dry, and while discussing their
condition with Kamsin we were joined by the " Professor."
Presently, as we were returning to the bungalow, the latter
began on his pet topic, and suddenly turning to the old
man who was following us asked him whether he knew
how to read and write ?

" No, Sahib," replied the astonished veteran, to whom
such knowledge was as foreign as Euclid or the classics to a
coster, and who, moreover, looked on such accomplishments
as fit only for the intriguing, effeminate Babu, a class
which he, in common with his kind, regarded with suspicion
and contempt.

" But your son, for I hear you have one," continued
the other, " he has, I presume, been taught ? "

" My son, Duntal Sing ! " replied the old man, still
more astonished. " Why he is a forest guard, Sahib ;
always in the jungles ! Of what use would it be to him
then to learn to read and write ? "

However, this argument, conclusive as he deemed it,
so far from convincing his opponent, provided him with
just the material he most needed for strengthening his
248

.<*

AN AMAZING ARGUMENT

contention, and quick to make use of it, he returned to the
charge.

44 True, a forest guard needs no education," he con-
tinued, " but why should he remain in that position,
when by learning to read and write he might become a
4 Muktiar ' or even a ' Vakil,' * and thus make much

money

v

The old man gazed at the speaker in mute amazement for
a while as if wondering to himself whether he was quite
right in his mind, then, evidently struggling to control his
feelings, he replied with ill-assumed humility, " that such a
calling was far too high for the sons of jungle men."

44 No, Sahib," he continued, with much dignity of
manner, 4t I have been a forest guard myself, as my father
was before me, and my son must be the same. The jackal's
cub does not become a leopard, nor the young leopard ever
grow into a tiger. Then, how can I, who am also of the
jungles, change what the 4 Pormessur ' has ordained, for
man and beast alike."

This reasoning, expressed in the old forester's quaint
phraseology, if not strictly logical, was at any rate too
much for the Professor, who, to use the school-boy phrase,
was absolutely " stumped," and, for once, seemed at a loss
for a reply. How he would eventually have combated
this argument would have been interesting to hear. Un-
fortunately, though perhaps, happily for his polemic
reputation, at this moment a diversion was created by the
arrival of a Mahout with the startling information that one
of the elephants sent out to fetch fodder had blundered
into a quicksand and was already nearly totally submerged.
All the other elephants in camp were immediately sent
out to its rescue, but by the time they arrived the un-
fortunate animal had almost disappeared beneath the
surface, but with its trunk yet some feet above the mud
was unhappily still alive.

In this terrible situation, with head and trunk uplifted
and emitting agonizing cries, it lingered for some hours,
for with the irony of fate, its feet had reached the solid

* Signifying different grades of attorneys — a profession much favoured
by educated natives, being a congenial occupation and comparatively
lucrative.

249

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

ground below ; but this availed it nothing, for the quick-
sand was of the dry and more dangerous variety, often
found near forests, in contradistinction to the liquid
quagmires to be met with in crossing rivers, when the
generally strong currents tend to destroy the adhesive
elements of which they are composed. Finally after many
hours suffering the animal died from exhaustion, accelerated
possibly by the mental anguish it must undoubtedly have
endured.

250

u

55 -^

CHAPTER XXXIV

A day or two after the incidents just related our camp
was broken up, Keenan and Woods proceeding to a distant
portion of the forest on inspection, and Miles to head-
quarters to meet the Commissioner of the division, who was
shortly expected there. The Professor, too, rinding his
efforts to educate the " Aryan brother " as represented
in these parts were not likely to be successful, accompanied
my friend en route to Calcutta, there to devise some fresh
scheme for carrying out his pet hobby.

I was thus left to my own devices, and took this oppor-
tunity to finish off my inspection work, which the exciting
events of the last few days had sadly interfered with.
Hence my time was now fully occupied, though less agree-
ably than I could have wished. Seated for many hours
daily in the stuffy station office, wading through endless
musty volumes in the almost hopeless effort to discover
errors in fact or figures which, if they existed, would, I
knew, be too cunningly concealed to be detected without the
closest scrutiny. The weariness of the task was well-nigh
past endurance, and yet it had to be performed, for it is
by these periodical inspections alone that station officers
in charge of out-lying posts can be kept up to the mark.
By the end of the second day, however, I had got over the
worst of it, and the next morning inspected the men on
parade, usually a somewhat more amusing function from
the extraordinary ignorance of drill generally displayed
by the officer in command, which often leads to quite
comical situations not contemplated in the drill book.
However, on this particular occasion the sub-inspector
happened to be an exceptionally smart officer, one of the
new regime trained at the police depot recently established,
and having a thorough knowledge of his drill, put the squad

251

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

through a few simple movements as smartly as any regi-
mental drill instructor, the men too, acquitted themselves
exceptionally well. Indeed, amongst the latter there
was but one man who showed any signs of slackness, a
high-caste Brahmin constable, and on this individual the
officer's wrath descended in a torrent of abuse in English
and Hindustani combined, his knowledge of both languages
in this respect seeming to be quite extraordinarily ex-
tensive.

Now, knowing that the sub -inspector was himself a
Hindu, and moreover of very low caste, it rather surprised
me to hear him address a Brahmin, albeit a subordinate,
in such opprobrious terms ; however, being pleased to find
that in matters of discipline he was no respecter of persons,
I merely made a mental note of it in his favour. But
there was another side to the picture, as I presently dis-
covered, depicting a scene so extraordinary that, with all
my knowledge of natives and their ways, I found it difficult
to believe the evidence of my eyes.

I had concluded my inspection and, dismissing the
parade, was walking away when, happening to turn round
to ask a question, what was my amazement to see my
smart young sub-inspector down on his knees before the
aforesaid Brahmin, embracing both his feet in the attitude
of one doing homage to an effigy of some much venerated
deity. Following on what had so recently occurred, it
was obvious that he was making a silent but most abject
act of self-abnegation for having had the audacity to address
a representative of a sect so sacred and august in the
language he had used, and from the condescending manner
of the other it was equally evident that such an apology
was expected.

The situation would have been most embarrassing, no
less for myself than for the two delinquents themselves.
Fortunately, they had not observed that I had witnessed
it ; so, pretending I had not noticed their behaviour, which
in the interests of discipline I could not otherwise have
ignored, I turned quickly away and left the ground.

A more striking example of the potency of caste, that
semi-religious but wholly mysterious ordinance peculiar
to India, it would be impossible to imagine, for in the
252

BURGLARY AND MURDER

matter of rank the two men bore much the same relation
to each other as would a subaltern and private in the army,
where no power of the imagination could conceive anything
approaching such a situation. Fortunately, however,
there are times when this powerful and all-important
factor in the administration of the country, as evidenced
by the great Mutiny of 1857, serves a useful purpose, and
may be advantageously made use of in police work. As
an instance of this I may quote the following incident
which occurred to a friend in a neighbouring district, when
a serious crime was brought to light after the ordinary
police methods had all failed. It is told as related by him.

" A burglary, attended with murder, had been com-
mitted in an out-lying village, which had completely
baffled the police to detect or even to obtain the smallest
clue, for, although suspicion pointed to a local bad char-
acter, a ' Dusadh ' or low-caste Hindu, no evidence could
be found to connect him with the crime. The divisional
inspector had finally taken up the case himself, but with
no better success, and at length, on his recommendation,
an officer from a neighbouring station, who had on one or
two occasions shown some detective ability, was placed
in charge of the investigation.

" A week or ten days passed, but as from the reports
he had sent me daily of his doings he seemed to have made
no progress, I went out to this village myself to look into
his work, but on arrival was informed that he was laid up
with a severe attack of malarial fever and unable to come
and pay his respects. As this malady was raging in the
village at the time, I had no reason for doubting this in-
formation, so, making some enquiries on my own account,
returned next morning to the station, half inclined to close
the investigation as it seemed useless to continue it.
However, some four days later, to my surprise the sub-
inspector suddenly turned up at my office with the
astonishing information that he had arrested the individual
originally suspected, who had made a full confession, as
well as two other persons whom the latter had denounced
as accomplices.

" But now comes the strange part of the story which,
however, I did not learn until some days after the three

253

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

accused had been duly tried, convicted and sentenced, for
the details of their arrest were not mentioned in the police
records nor, consequently, did they come out at the trial,
and it was only when discussing the case later with the
sub-inspector, that I came to learn how they had been
effected.

" It seemed that on taking charge of the case, the
officer, finding that the suspected man knew he was sus-
pected, had assiduously set to work to remove this im-
pression, and having thus gained the man's confidence,
gradually entrapped him into making certain admissions,
showing that he had some knowledge of the facts. This
being all he wanted for the development of his plan, he now
treated his unsuspecting victim with all the consideration
due to one supposed to be assisting the police, eliciting
further admissions from him daily, till he was completely
in his power, when, suddenly rounding on him, played,
as it were, the last trump in his hand. But to understand
what follows, it is necessary to explain that the officer in
question was a man of exceptionally high caste, being a
' Coolin-Brahmin,' the highest grade of that priestly and
most exclusive order, and as such, held in the deepest
veneration by Hindus of all classes, high or low. Taking
full advantage of this, he now accused the man publicly,
before the whole village, of wilfully concealing information
and gave out that, such being the case, he, a high-caste
Brahmin though he was, would strip himself of his clothing
and neither eat nor drink nor clothe himself again until
this individual had revealed all, knowing full well that,
the village being composed entirely of Hindus, they would
bring pressure to bear rather than see a Brahmin suffer
such discomfort.

" Apart from its morality the scheme was certainly
an ingenious one, and from that point of view, met with
the success that it deserved, for although the wretched
victim held out for a day the position was untenable.
Conscious of his guilt and reviled unceasingly by his fellow
villagers, his life was made a burden to him. Thus, at
the end of four and twenty hours he fell at the sub-
inspector's feet, and confessed to the crime, implicating
the two others as already mentioned.

X

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en

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SPELL OF THE JUNGLE

" My unexpected visit had, however, come perilously
near to wrecking this deep-laid plot, for I now learnt that
the officer was actually undergoing his self-inflicted penance
at the time, and it was only his readiness of invention,
characteristic of all natives, whether followers of Brahma
or Mohammed, which had saved the situation. For he
could not well have appeared before me unclothed, and
yet to have donned his clothing, even temporarily, would
have been fatal to his project.

" But ingenious as was his scheme, and successful as it
had proved, the fact that it had induced the man to
confess made his action illegal, hence, much as I admired
his zeal and ingenuity, I was reluctantly compelled to
suspend him, pending further enquiry into the matter.
Eventually, however, in consultation with the magistrate,
it was decided that, in consideration of the motive and
the excellent character hitherto borne by the officer, his
transgression might be regarded as an error of judgment.
He was accordingly merely severely reprimanded and
warned to be more careful in future, a punishment which,
it is needless to say, was only formal and not intended to
injure his career."

My inspection duties being completed and feeling the
fascination of the jungle calling me again, after this long
spell of comparative civilization, I resolved, instead of
returning homewards by road, to strike across the very
heart of the forest to a station on its further border which
had to be inspected. The distance was roughly about
five and twenty miles, which, at the rate of forest travel,
meant three marches, for with the exception of an occa-
sional friendly fire line there was neither road nor track
other than what the elephants could make, as one following
in the footsteps of the other forced their tedious passage
through the mass of trees and creepers.

From dawn till long past mid-day we plodded wearily
along, making little more than one mile in the hour, and
every now and then disturbing some unknown animal,
of whose size and species we could only judge by the
movement in the jungle as it rushed through it, scared at
our approach. Finally, about two in the afternoon, but

255

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

already as dark as sun-down, we reached our destination,
a forest guard look-out post, known to Kamsin, being one
in which in days gone by he had spent many a lonely
vigil, and, being larger than most of these airy structures,
he had suggested it as my lodging for that night. Here
we unloaded the tired elephants, and while their drivers
took them down to drink at a jungle stream close by,
the old forester, assisted by the present incumbent of the
post, prepared the hut for my occupation by the very
summary process of turning everything it contained out
on to the ground.

I found the hut was quite a roomy one, being built
over several spreading branches of the tree on a fairly
level platform made of thick bamboos, about twelve feet
from the ground. Its walls were of bamboo matting,
surmounted by a roof of thatching grass and, for a native
dwelling, was extraordinarily clean, probably due to its
having been recently repaired. A low maichan, or platform,
also of bamboo, occupied one corner of the hut and, with
an elephant's quilt spread over it, served later as a bed-
stead after it had done duty as a table ; so on the whole
I had no reason to complain of my accommodation nor
with its situation, for being so high above ground it was
comparatively cool.

The tree, which stood close to a fire-line, was one of
the largest I have ever seen, with huge branches growing
almost at right angles, and above those which supported
the hut was another's platform, or crow's nest, consider-
ably higher up, used as a look-out in the day time by the
guard.

Having thoroughly inspected my quarters and arranged
the few necessaries I carried conveniently to hand, I amused
myself watching the culinary operations going on below,
part of which were evidently intended for my benefit, for
amongst the raw material displayed I recognized the carcase
of a gaudy plumaged jungle cock which I had shot on the
way. While some of the men were thus engaged, others
were as busily employed constructing a shelter for the
night with pads and tarpaulins, in the manner I have already
once described, except that on this occasion, the position
being a more dangerous one, they used branches in addition,
256

TRUSTING TO PROVIDENCE

placing them outside the pads in the form of a zareba.
The elephants, too, were more securely tethered, each
animal being fastened to a tree with ropes in addition to
their chains, and hobbled as well, to prevent a stampede
should they scent or hear any animals in the jungle ; these
precautions being quite necessary, for, as the guard in-
formed us, tigers and bears often, and occasionally wild
elephants, came past the tree at nights.

Long before all these arrangements were completed
darkness had set in, and the final preparations had con-
sequently to be made by the light of our only lantern,
which, although of many candle-power, showed but as a
taper in the inky blackness by which we were surrounded,
proving how helpless we should be if attacked by any
animal of the cat-tribe gifted with night-sight. The usual
camp-fire was out of the question here, for the undergrowth
was mostly of grass, inflammable as tinder, and if once
ignited would be impossible to extinguish, hence even
the cooking fires had to be put out. With the light
of the lantern, then, as our sole protection against possible
invasion of the camp, we retired to our respective shelters,
trusting to Providence and luck to escape the perils of the
night.

257

CHAPTER XXXV

The novelty of the situation, plus the fact that I had gone
to bed some three hours earlier than usual, kept me awake
for some time, but except for the continuous tearing and
munching sounds made by the elephants as they devoured
the leafy branches provided for their use, the forest seemed
as silent as if uninhabited by anything possessed of life and
faculty of movement. Possibly in our immediate neigh-
bourhood the unwonted sound of human voices had scared
the beasts away, but now that the camp was hushed in
slumber I might at any moment hear some animal close
at hand, for the jungle, except for the narrow strip of fire-
line, grew close up to the tree. However, the strain of
keeping my attention fixed finally sent me off to sleep, and
I must have slept some hours, for when I awoke I found the
interior of the hut bathed in brilliant moonlight, and,
standing by the bedstead, with his hand on my shoulder,
the khaki-clad figure of Kamsin, who had evidently been
trying to shake me into consciousness.

" Hullo, what has happened ? " I cried, starting up
excitedly, as it suddenly occurred to me that one of the
elephants, perhaps, had broken loose.

" Get up quickly, Sahib," he whispered, " and bring
the ' ikspris.' There is some large animal moving in the
jungle close to the fire-line, and if the Sahib is quick he
will perhaps get a shot at it."

My smooth-bore, loaded with ball, was lying close
beside me, and the " ikspris," otherwise my #500 express
resting against the wall, but, taking the old man's sound
advice, I seized the latter and, hurriedly slipping in two
cartridges, followed him to the doorway overlooking
the fire-line.

Stepping on to the small verandah, I found that — owing
to the moon being directly overhead — this track was now
258

A SHOT AND ITS EFFECT

brilliantly lit up, the dark wall of the jungle on each side
giving to it the appearance of some silvery mountain torrent
flowing through a rift ; but I had little time to admire the
beauty of the scene, for the next moment two black furry
creatures, suddenly emerging out of the darkness, appeared
upon the track.

" Bhallook, Sahib," whispered my attendant, " and
look ! they are coming down this way." And so they
proved to be, for, presently, as they came nearer, I could
see that they were bears — one an enormous animal, and
closely following it, another — evidently a nearly full-
grown cub.

With the quaint, waddling gait and manner peculiar to
the bear tribe, they walked leisurely down the path — now
stopping to sniff at something that attracted them, or —
like spoiled children — suddenly bursting into a paroxysm
of rage, for no apparent reason, except that they had
failed perhaps to find what they were seeking — a white
ant-heap, most likely, or some particularly favourite root.
I was so absorbed in watching their whimsical proceedings,
that I had almost let them pass me without firing when I
was reminded of my omission by the more practically
minded shikari, to whom the bears' antics afforded no
amusement.

" Shoot, Sahib, shoot, or they will get away into the
jungle!" he whispered excitedly, evidently at a loss to
understand my inaction ; but as he spoke I had brought
the rifle to my shoulder, and selecting the larger animal,
fired quickly, aiming at its head, or as nearly in that direction
as was possible in a light so dazzling to the eyes.

Almost simultaneously with the report, there was a
quick movement in the jungle below, and the next moment,
with a loud reverberating roar, some heavy animal went
crashing through it to our left, seeming to pass within a
foot or two behind the tree.

Meanwhile a curious and most laughable comedy was
being enacted to our front, where the bear, wounded, but
evidently not seriously, had turned on its companion and
in a manner ridiculously human in its action, was literally
punching its head, obviously under the impression that the
innocent victim of its wrath had inflicted the injury. As

259

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

the luckless object of its fury fell under the blows, the
furious beast stood watching it, and no sooner had it risen
to its feet, promptly knocked it down again, this perform-
ance being repeated several times, till, wraiting an oppor-
tunity, for I did not wish to hurt the cub, I fired again at
its assailant, and this time with evident success, for with a
savage cry of rage it dashed into the jungle, followed by the
other.

But now again, a few seconds after I had fired, there
was another loud, appalling roar, and before I had time
to insert fresh cartridges a tiger sprang out of the cover
to our left, and clearing the cutting at a bound, landed with
a crash into the cover opposite. The beast had un-
doubtedly been stalking the bears when the first shot
was fired, and on hearing another came to the conclusion,
no doubt, that it would be dangerous to remain.

The old man was much put out at the sudden
appearance of the animal, or rather its sudden disappear-
ance, blaming himself for his stupidity in failing to warn
me, and, as we stood listening to it crashing through the
jungle in its flight I could hear him muttering curses on
the beast for having thus outwitted him. Thinking to con-
sole him, I said, " It did not matter, as I should probably
have missed, and that at any rate we had probably got
a bear," but my attempt to minimize our misfortune was
not very successful, for to him, as an old shikari, the
blunder was apparently quite unforgiveable.

" Yes, Sahib, the bear has eaten two bullets * and
must die during the night, but of what good is a bear
when we might have got the tiger, and such a big one too,"
he added, almost weeping as the recollection of the huge
body poised for a second in the air, almost spanning the
width of the cutting, came back to his mind.

It was certainly most tantalizing to think how near
I had been to securing what would possibly have proved
a record tiger, for from the glimpse I had caught of it
the beast had seemed a very giant amongst its kind. It
was just one of those occasional disappointments which
give to big-game shooting the extraordinary fascination it

* A native sporting idiom to express that the animal has been hit.
260

A HAZARDOUS STALK

possesses for the sportsman, a precept I tried to impress
on my old henchman. But this view of the question was
evidently beyond the sphere of his philosophy, and still
reviling himself, and the tiger as being the first beast of any
kind that had succeeded in besting him, he descended to
his quarters while I retired to bed.

The rest of the night passed uneventfully, and with the
first streak of dawn we set out in quest of the bear, taking
an elephant with us, but only to bring back the carcase
should we be so fortunate as to find it, for it was necessary
for us to be on foot as the track left by the animals was
difficult to see; in fact, to me, they were not visible at all.
But tracking was the old shikari's strongest point, and it
was interesting to watch the marvellous skill with which,
amongst the many old trails, he picked out the latest,
following it as one might a road marked with sign-posts
every yard, till we came to a heavy bit of grass exhibiting
a tunnel-like passage through it.

Here he paused a moment, and warning me to have my
rifle ready, advanced again, but more cautiously, looking
constantly to his right and left and as far ahead as he
could see, for the passage was tortuous in its course. I
followed closely with both my hammers at full cock, and
holding the rifle ready for instant use, but, to confess the
truth, feeling far less truculent than my attitude might
have suggested. Our position was unquestionably a very
dangerous one, since the bear, if there and only wounded,
might attack us at any moment, and from any quarter ;
and cramped as we were for room, it would have been
difficult to have turned quickly enough to fire with any
certainty of killing the beast outright. Fortunately,
however, the last bullet, to resume the Indian idiom, had
proved an all-sufficient meal, for, presently the passage
suddenly widened to some ten feet in diameter, showing a
space evidently recently trodden down, and crouched in
one corner was the bear, to all appearances alive, though,
happily for us, dead as a mummy.

The animal proved to be a she-bear, as we had guessed,
but an unusually large one. We found two bullet holes,
one through the nose, and this being obviously the first
shot, accounted for the onslaught on her cub, the second,

261

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

though behind the shoulder, was too far back to be imme-
diately fatal. The cub was nowhere to be seen, having
probably gone off on its own account after the rough
handling it had been subjected to. While we were examin-
ing the carcase the elephant came up, and hoisting the
body on to the pad we returned to the hut, whence, after a
scratch breakfast eaten while the bear was being skinned
by Kamsin, we resumed our journey.

The travelling was much the same as we had experienced
the day before, but when we had gone a mile or two we
suddenly came upon a track which for a time puzzled
even the astute shikari to decipher, till at length his old
instincts as a forest guard coming to his assistance he
pronounced it to be a path made by some villagers coming
to steal firewood from the forest.

" Look, Sahib, you can see where they have cut it,"
pointing to some axe marks on a tree which were dis-
tinctly to be seen and evidently quite fresh. " But where
can they have come from ? " he continued, suddenly
remembering that the nearest village was nearly ten miles
distant from this place. However, as the pathway seemed
to lead in the direction we were going, we resolved to
follow it and solve the mystery if we could, and had
proceeded about two hundred yards, when, to our amaze-
ment, we heard the barking of a dog, unmistakably an
ordinary " pariah," or native cur.

This additional evidence of man's presence, proving
beyond a doubt that there must be some unknown village
near, or perhaps a temporary encampment, fired my
curiosity, and hurrying on the elephants, soon reached
what appeared to be a small savannah, from which the
grass had either been removed or trampled down. Occupy-
ing this clearing were several small, rudely shaped huts, or
shelters, made of branches, and moving amongst them,
a score or two of strange-looking, scantily attired beings,
men, women and children, the last absolutely nude, sturdy
little urchins, very different to the sickly, pot-bellied
bantlings ordinarily to be seen in Bengal villages.

" They are c Garos,' Sahib," replied Kamsin, in answer
to my enquiry ; and such they proved to be, a gang of this
strange, nomadic tribe about one hundred in number, who,
262

THE "GAROS"

as discovered later from their head-man, had left their
native hills some months before and, wandering through
the western forests of Assam had recently arrived here,
to halt, maybe a month, and then move on again, according
to their custom. With their strongly marked Mongolian
cast of countenance, short, stumpy legs and long bodies,
they were, as I have said, a strange looking people, some-
what resembling the " Bhutias " I had seen at the Durbar,
but of a type even lower and less human than that semi-
savage race. Indeed, both from their appearance and
demeanour, they might well have been mistaken for a part
of the jungle animal population.

On our arrival, I had noticed that the village, if such
it could be called, was seemingly in a wild state of excite-
ment, the cause of which we soon ascertained through
Kamsin, who most unfortunately, as it turned out, knew
something of their language. It appeared that one of the
men, who had gone into the jungle to collect firewood late
the evening before, had not returned, and searching for
him early that morning, they had discovered that he had
evidently been seized and carried off by a tiger. They had
found the trail and followed it, till the sound of bones
being crunched, interrupted for the moment by a low,
muffled growl, warned them to go no further.

This was the substance of their story, repeated by
my shikari.

" And there, Sahib," he continued, pointing to a tree
about two hundred yards off, " that is where they heard
the tiger growling, less than two hours ago ! So, if the
Sahib will come at once, we may find him there still ! "

Without waiting for my reply, for he knew I was not
likely to refuse, he set to work at once, and the Mahouts,
under his directions, quickly divesting their elephants of
a portion of their loads, we proceeded up the glade to the
spot where the man was said to have been seized. Here
we found amply evidence of the tragedy in splashes of blood
and fragments of clothing in the foliage through which
the man had been dragged. It was evident, too, that he
must have been killed instantaneously, otherwise, the
" village " being so near, his screams would have been
heard.

263

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

Meanwhile, Kamsin, who was on foot, had been making
a more searching examination, with a view to further
proceedings, now unfolded his plan of attack.

" We must beat from this side," he began, " but I must
first place the Sahib in position," and, mounting one of
the pad elephants, he told my Mahout to follow him.
Proceeding along the glade to some distance, we entered
the forest, and making a long detour through it, to avoid
scaring the tiger, eventually worked round till we came to
a comparatively open space, a hundred yards or so beyond
the tree. Here, directing my Mahout to conceal his
elephant, and carefully noting its position with reference
to the tree, he returned to the beaters. Placed as I was,
the clearing, scarce thirty feet in width, lay to my front
and beyond it, all was dense jungle, extending apparently
right up to the glade, which, so far as I could judge, was
about three hundred yards from where we stood. About half
an hour later, I heard the crashing of the jungle as the
elephants commenced to beat ; but, contrary to their
usual custom, the Mahouts were absolutely silent, this
being a part of the old man's plan in order that the tiger,
mistaking the elephants for wild ones, might retreat
quietly, instead of with a rush, as was likely, should it
hear the sound of human voices. In his management of
the beat, too, he displayed an ingenuity worthy of his
reputation, for as soon as the tiger was afoot, I could see
from the movements in the jungle that the direction of
the line was being constantly changed so as to induce the
animal to break in front of my position, which in such
heavy jungle was a feat exceedingly difficult to accomplish.
Nevertheless, it was most interesting to watch, for one
moment the line could be seen, advancing directly towards
me, the next it had turned sharply to the right, to be
moved almost immediately in the opposite direction,
which it pursued for a while, then, suddenly changing front,
rushed back for several yards, and, wheeling round again,
continued to advance.

These manoeuvres occupied a considerable time and
till the elephants had almost reached the end of the cover,
when I noticed a slow, sinuous movement in the jungle to
my left. The next moment, cleaving the fringe of tangled
264

A RIGHT AND LEFT

undergrowth, a tiger's head appeared and, with a quick
yet stealthy tread, the beast emerged on to the clearing.
I fired at once, a right and left, as one would at a hare,
and the brute, evidently hard hit, acknowledged the first
shot with a roar, while the second brought it down on to
its knees ; but, recovering itself immediately, with one
mighty bound, cleared the intervening space, and roaring
savagely the while, disappeared into the jungle before I
could re-load.

265

CHAPTER XXXVI

The tiger had hardly ceased roaring in the jungle behind
me when the elephants emerged from the cover. The
Mahouts now shouted loudly to scare the beast away,
for, having heard its roars, they guessed it must be wounded,
and, if lying up near, feared it might charge on seeing the
line advancing. The old shikari, however, with his keener
sense of hearing, had probably heard the beast, as I had,
being nearer, making off through the jungle, at any rate,
ignoring their fears, he slipped off his elephant and set to
work at once, searching for the track to see if he could find
any traces of blood.

" Wait a moment," I cried, getting off too. " I will
show you where the beast came out," but he had already
found it.

" Here it is, Sahib," he said, as I joined him, pointing
to a slight break in the undergrowth, hardly discernible;
then, following what he declared were the animal's foot-
prints, which to me were quite invisible, we came to where
I had fired the last shot.

Here he paused a while and, examining the spot closely,
exclaimed —

" This is where he must have ' eaten the bullets,'
for, look, Sahib ! here are some marks which show that
he fell ! " and looking to where he pointed, I could see there
were two slight depressions in the ground. " But," he
went on, muttering to himself, " how did he reach the
jungle ? The foot-prints end here, and a tiger is not a
bird that he can fly." Then, as I was about to explain,
the truth seemed suddenly to dawn on him, and, measuring
the distance with his eye, he cried out in amazement,
" Kali Mai,* he must have sprung from here ! " His

* Kali (goddess), "Mother," and, as made use of here, equivalent to
an Englishman's " By Jove ! "
266

x o

O .60

ft *c3

o ^

s ^

A WOUNDED TIGER

remark was met with loud cries of derision from the
Mahouts, who, on their respective elephants, were
crowded round us.

" Impossible, it cannot be," said one, an old grey-
beard, always somewhat jealous of Kamsin. " Who has
ever heard of a tiger jumping more than twelve cubits ?
If this one can so do, it must be a ' Bhooth.' " *

This suggestion seemed to make some impression on
his credulous companions. I thought it was time to inter-
fere, for I knew that once they got this notion into their
heads, they might possibly object to following up the beast.
Accordingly, ordering the old man "to hold his tongue and
not talk such nonsense, as I had myself seen the tiger take
the leap," we walked on to where it had plunged into the
jungle and there, to my delight, found the leaves and
branches smeared and splashed with blood.

"Look!" cried Kamsin, excitedly, turning to the
Mahouts, and holding up a blood-stained leaf, " Old Meajan
there has told us this tiger is a ' Bhooth ; ' if so, he must
be made of flesh and blood, which is impossible. Bah !
he talks like an old woman ; but are we, who are men, to
be frightened with his nonsense ? "

This speech, quite a long one for him, had just the
effect that he intended, and the men, who had already
evinced some reluctance to follow up the tiger, now seemed
keen to do so. For, like most of their dangerous calling,
cowardice formed no part of their nature, and once assured
there was nothing supernatural about the animal, were
quite prepared to take all ordinary risks. But although
the old shikari's specious arguments had overcome their
scruples, I could not be blind to the fact that we were
embarking on a very dangerous undertaking, yet little
did I guess what the old man's successful oration was to
cost him, or how the events of the next half -hour were to
influence my own life for many a year to come ; but I
must not anticipate.

My intrepid old attendant, having gained his point,
now suggested that he should precede my elephant on
foot along the tiger's track ; but this I declined absolutely
to permit.

* Ghost, or Spirit of Evil.

267

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

" No," I said, " the track is clear enough for my Mahout
to see it," and, ordering the old man to mount and follow
my elephant closely, we started, the line extended to the
right and left following behind us.

We had been proceeding in this manner for about three
hundred yards, when we came to another little clearing,
but whether the tiger had crossed this, or, skirting the
jungle, had gone to the right or left, was difficult to discover
without closer examination, as the track seemed to have
come to an end.

Spreading out the elephants, we were carefully examin-
ing the ground, hoping to find something to guide us,
when I heard Kamsin, as I thought, on the elephant behind
me, talking to his Mahout.

" Very strange," he was saying, " I wonder where he
can have gone to ? " Then, sarcastically, with a laugh,
" Perhaps, old Meajan was right and the tiger was a
6 Bhooth ' after all— eh, brother ? "

I turned quickly round to speak to him, but only to
find that there was no one on the pad and the next moment,
to my horror, saw that he had dismounted, and now down
on his hands and knees, was calmly examining the ground
in front of a small clump, about twelve feet away.

I called to him angrily to get on to his elephant at
once, yelling loudly in my excitement and anxiety for
his safety, but the words were hardly out of my mouth,
when, with a roar doubly appalling from the proximity of
the sound, the tiger was upon him, bearing him to the
ground with the impetuosity of its charge.

Fortunately the old man had risen to his feet, pre-
sumably to obey my order, and in falling backwards
broke, to some extent, the force of the impact. Happily,
too, he was carrying his gun, which, with a presence of mind
characteristic of the old sportsman, he held across his face,
and as the tiger bore him down, managed to thrust it between
its jaws, thus, for a time, practically gagging the furious
beast.

Lying flat on his back, with the tiger half standing,
half -crouched over him, he still stuck manfully to his gun,
thrusting it forward to the full length of his arms, while
the beast, thus prevented from using its teeth, struck
268

A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE

furiously at him with its claws, at the same time making
savage efforts to close its jaws on the weapon, as if under
the impression it was a part of its victim.

Meanwhile I watched the desperate struggle with mind
and body both paralyzed with horror for the moment at
the old man's terrible situation, which I felt must soon
end in his death, for he had been already severely clawed,
and was visibly growing weaker.

Nevertheless, strange as it may seem, this temporary
suspension of my faculties ultimately proved his salvation,
for, otherwise in the excitement of the moment, I would
probably have fired, in which case one of two things must
inevitably have happened. Either, I would have hit the
tiger and thus provoked it to killing the man at once, even
should the shot prove fatal in the end, or, what was equally
likely, I might have shot the man instead, for the two were
welded so closely together that it was practically impossible
to fire at the one without hitting the other. Whereas these
few seconds of mental and physical inaction, brief as they
had been, had not only averted these dangers, but, as
often happens in such cases, left me calm and collected and
thus inclined to act with greater circumspection.

However, suddenly impelled with a feeling of convic-
tion that there was but one thing to be done, I dropped my
rifle on to the pad and calling on the Mahouts to join me,
shouted as loudly as I could, at the same time clapping my
hands together, to add to the tumult.

At the loud, and, to a wild animal, doubtless awe-
inspiring sounds, the tiger turned its head and looking up
for a moment, sprang back into the clump, and rushing
quickly through it, entered the jungle beyond.

Already prepared, should my experiment fail, to get
off and try to shoot the beast on foot, I was down in a
second, and while the animal was still to be heard crashing
through the jungle, had, with the assistance of Meajan,
who strangely enough was the first to come to my assistance,
carried the wounded man to a shady spot under a small
tree. He was quite unconscious, but, thanks to his plucky
defence with his gun, still living, for the tiger, having
eventually wrested the weapon from his grasp, was still
venting its rage on it when disturbed. Nevertheless, in

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the brief space of time that had elapsed since its attack,
two minutes probably at the most, the injuries it had
inflicted on its victim, with its claws, were too terrible
to look on. The left side of his face was laid bare, almost
to the bones, while the shoulders, arms, and chest, down to
the waist, were ploughed with furrows, as if with a rake.
Of his clothing, the old, familiar khaki suit, there was hardly
six square inches left intact and, from the fragments that
remained, one might have supposed the material had been
originally crimson.

Pouring some whisky into his mouth, part of which
he seemed to swallow, he presently revived, and opening
his eyes, which I was thankful to find uninjured, he looked
earnestly at me a moment, then, in a hoarse whisper,
enquired eagerly whether the tiger had been killed ?

I was about to reply, when his question was answered
by the beast itself in a loud reverberating roar, which came
echoing through the jungle. The old man had heard it
too and, as if the sound had temporarily restored his
failing strength, started up excitedly into a half sitting
position.

" Sahib," he cried, in a voice trembling with emotion,
vainly attempting to raise his mutilated arms in supplica-
tion. " Your slave is lying helpless here, and likely to
die, but, he knows the gods will spare him, if the tiger's
life is offered up to them instead," and falling back again
as he concluded, relapsed into unconsciousness.

" What does he mean ? " I asked, turning to Meajan
for an explanation of what I guessed was some native
superstition.

" He has spoken true words, Huzoor," replied the old
Mahout, " for, amongst these jungle people it is said that
if a hunter is wounded by any animal he is hunting, the
man, unless the beast is killed, is sure to die."

He then went on to tell me, that, knowing Kamsin
to be a firm believer in this maxim, he feared, if we allowed
the tiger to escape, the old man would fret himself to death.
Under these circumstances it seemed to me the best thing
I could do was to follow the tiger up at once. However,
before setting out, assisted by the old Mahout, we washed
the old shikari's wounds as well as we could, with a weak
270

FOLLOWING UP THE TIGER

solution of carbolic acid, which I always carried with me,
and making him as comfortable as possible with his own
bedding, taken off the elephant, we left him in charge of
my orderly and khitmagar * with strict orders to tell him,
at once should he come to during our absence, that the
Sahib had gone to shoot the tiger. We found no difficulty
in following up the beast, for its wounds seemed to have
broken out afresh, and drops of blood, here and there, in
small patches, marked its path in addition to the track
that it had made.

To make a long story short, however, we soon came
upon it, sooner, indeed, than we expected, for we had
hardly entered the larger jungle, when with a loud, coughing
roar, it suddenly sprang out at my elephant, doubtless
intending to seize it by the trunk.

But my animal was too old a shikari to be caught in
this way. Curling up this most sensitive portion of its
anatomy, it went promptly down upon its knees, and with
its solitary tusk piercing the beast right through the ribs
literally pinned it to the ground.

This was all very well for the elephant, and, doubtless
from the strategic point of view, a movement much to be
commended, but, for me, this very sudden change in its
position came perilously near to breaking my neck, or at
the best being mauled by the tiger.

Shot out of the pad as if expelled by a catapult I
found myself flying through space, with the rifle in hand
to which I clung tenaciously, with the same inane per-
sistence as a drowning man to his straw, and finally landed,
fortunately as it happened, on a portion of my person less
frangible than the neck, to receive the next moment a
stinging blow across my face. When sufficiently collected
to take in my surroundings I found I was lying within
three feet of the tiger, which as it writhed and circled
round its ivory pivot, vainly attempting to claw the
elephant's head, had evidently struck me with its tail.
Rolling out of its way, in time to avoid another blow I
scrambled to my feet, and, watching my opportunity
emptied both my barrels into the squirming carcase,
whereupon, to my horror, the elephant, as if now resolved

* Table servant.

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

to leave the matter in my hands, with a sudden upward
movement of its tusk projected the still living beast over
my head into the jungle behind, whence with hardly a
moment's pause it rushed open mouthed at me. Fortu-
nately, I had reloaded at once, and as the beast approached
I fired a right and left into its mouth and loading again
as I retreated sought refuge behind the elephant's huge
body. But there was no further cause for alarm, the
last two bullets had done their business thoroughly, and
I had hardly reached my shelter when I heard the welcome
cries : " Murgya, Sahib, Murgya," * raised in chorus by
the Mahouts. The tigress, for such she proved to be, had
died without a sound, and I found her lying as she had
fallen — flat on her chest, with her head blown almost
to atoms by the two hollow bullets, both of which had
evidently broken up. She was an ordinary sized tigress,
just over eight foot two, and apparently had cubs with her,
for the " kill," which the Mahout's had come across was
already almost eaten to the bones.

Loading her on to a pad, not without some difficulty,
we hurried back, anxious to communicate the good news
to Kamsin whom we found now conscious again, propped
up against the tree and evidently anxiously awaiting the
result of the shots which he had doubtless heard. As
he caught sight of the elephants I could see him looking
eagerly from one to the other till his eyes lit on the one
carrying the carcase, and it was curious to see the look of
intense relief that came over his features, mutilated though
they were, on seeing the long striped body hanging across
the pad.

" Look, Kamsin," I shouted, pointing to the carcase,
" you see we have killed the tiger, so now your wounds
will quickly heal ; " this I added thinking to encourage
him by pretending I shared his strange belief.

The tears gathered in his eyes, but, controlling his
emotion with an effort, he replied in terms too extravagant
for repetition, "that owing to my all-powerful intervention,"
etc., etc., " his life would now assuredly be saved but,"
he continued, his sporting instincts still strong within him,
" his slave would like much to hear how the beast was

* " He is dead, sir ; he is dead."
272

BACK TO CAMP

killed." I told him exactly what had happened, and while
listening with rapt attention to the tale of the en-
counter he seemed quite to forget his own terrible experience.
" Of what use am I as a shikari," he cried as I concluded;
" to be lying here like a stone, while the Sahib was fighting
the tiger by himself ? " But, as I tried to impress on him,
the more important question at the moment was how he
was to be transported to our last encampment, where I had
decided to take him for the night, en route back to Alipur
for treatment at the hospital. However, finally, at his own
suggestion we lifted the old man carefully on to a small
elephant, noted for her smooth paces, and wended our way
slowly back to the hut, the orderly and my servant seated
on each side of the pad to prevent his rolling off.

On arrival we made him as comfortable as circumstances
would admit, on a pad placed under the shelter of the
tree, for it was impossible to carry him up into the hut,
and rigged a tent over him with tarpaulin to keep off
the dew, which at that season was heavy almost as rain.
The old Mahout and I sat up with him in turn, administering
weak whisky and water at intervals throughout the night,
but in spite of the ghastly nature of his wounds it was
curious to see how wonderfully he had picked up since
assured of the tiger's death, while the proximity of its
skin, now hanging on a branch close by, seemed to afford
him infinite satisfaction. We were fortunately not dis-
turbed during the night, and with the first glimpse of
dawn replacing the pad carefully on to the elephant,
started on our return journey, literally retracing our steps
along the track we had made two days before, and con-
sequently did the distance in a little more than half the
time.

We made straight for the hospital, where the native
doctor, though at first somewhat aghast at the magnitude
of the task, finally accomplished it with considerable skill,
treating each wound with nitrate of silver till the old man,
stoic as he was, cried out with the pain, declaring that the
doctor was putting live coals on to the wounds. However,
after the injuries had all been thoroughly cauterized, and
where possible stitched up, he was given an opiate, to
which unaccustomed luxury he immediately succumbed,

T 273

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

leaving the doctor at leisure to tell me his opinion, which
he did at once in the usual " Doctor Babu " phraseology.

" Most awful serious case, sir," he began, doubtless as
a hedge. " But his honour's happy-thoughted washings
and carbolic at early stage has much arrested evil progress
and patient will recover soon no doubt, D.V., by leaps and
bounds. "

This was eminently satisfactory, so far as it went.
Unfortunately, the latter portion of his prophecy was not
realized, for, so far from the recovery being made by
" leaps and bounds," the poor old man was laid up for two
months, and then only recovered at the expense of his left
arm, which was withered and useless from the shoulder,
and a face scarred almost beyond recognition.

Meanwhile, as there seemed no improvement, the next
morning I decided to obtain better advice if possible,
accordingly started later in the day for headquarters,
hoping to induce my friend McFarlane, our sporting civil
surgeon, to come out and see the old man himself.

274

CHAPTER THE LAST

I travelled by the ordinary route along the road, being
as anxious now to avoid the jungle as I had been to traverse
it, for the excitement of it being over, the terrible scene I
had witnessed seemed to have left a lasting impression
on my mind which, strive as I might, I could not forget.
Halting for the night at one of my police-stations half-
way, I arrived at headquarters late the next evening and
went at once to see the doctor, whom I found seated at
dinner with half the station round him. It happened
to be one of his bi-weekly entertainments, or " treatments "
as he facetiously termed them, as an excuse for these con-
vivialities, pretending that for a man to dine alone was
fatal to his digestion !

" Hullo ! " he cried, as I came in unannounced, " what's
brought you back so soon ? But come, sit you down,
we have only just begun."

I required no persuasion for I had eaten nothing since
the morning, but first told him the errand I had come on.

" Of course I'll go out at once," he said, as soon as he
learnt the serious nature of the wounds. " I can start
to-night if you will arrange a ' Palki-dak,' for though my
chap at Alipur is all right, so far as he goes, this job may
prove beyond him."

" I will come too," said Keenan, who with Woods had
arrived the day before. " I have to go there again in any
case, and would like to see how the old man is getting on ;
but I think we had better drive," he continued, " it will be
quicker than going by ' Palki.' "

Matters being thus arranged, orders were given to send
horses out at once to the various stages on the road, to
allow of an early start being made, all of us contributing
to the number of animals required for the journey, which,
as the distance was fifty miles, would take seven horses to

275

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

accomplish. After dinner and a pipe or two, the two
intending travellers soon retired to bed, when Miles, who
was also one of the guests, and Woods, made me repeat the
story all over again, listening with untiring attention, for
neither could understand how so cute an individual as the
old shikari had allowed himself to be surprised by the
tiger. However, when at length they realized how close
the beast had lain and how very suddenly it had sprung on
him, they could not but admire the extraordinary presence
of mind he had shown in protecting his face ; for, as Miles
rightly remarked, nine men out of ten would probably
have given in at once and thus been killed outright.

The incident caused quite a sensation in the town,
where the old man had been well known for many years
as " the great shikari," and quite a mob assembled the
next morning to see the " Doctor Sahib " and " Jungli
Lord Sahib " start, the fact of two high European officials
showing such concern for a poor native being quite un-
intelligible to their minds.

I may mention here that their mission proved eminently
successful, for although they found the patient almost in
extremis, McFarlane's skill, aided by the old man's delight
at rinding two Sahibs had come to see him, worked wonders,
and from that moment he began to mend, eventually
recovering as I have already stated.

The doctor told me later that at first he thought the
case was hopeless, and feared blood-poisoning would set
in, but that, although he had done his best, he was quite
convinced no skill of his could have saved the patient's
life, but for the old man's own belief in his recovery and
what he termed the " Jungli Lord Sahib's " marvellous
condescension in having come out all that way to see a
pensioned " Pharas-Gad."

In the mean time my accidental meeting with the
Garos in the forest, which had led to the disaster, turned
out an event of no little importance, which I venture to
relate as an example of the difficulties with which a district
officer is confronted in his attempts to administer efficiently
some of the remoter and less civilized districts of Bengal.

At the time the incident occurred, the decennial census
of the province was about to be taken ; the preliminary
276

REACTION

counting had already been done and the schedules all
prepared for the final enumeration to take place later.
Miles, on hearing of these Garos, had at once sent for the
schedule for that part of the district, and, examining it,
found, as he suspected, that this gang had not been entered ;
hence, but for my accidental discovery, these hundred or
more individuals would have escaped enumeration alto-
gether, whereas this omission led to stricter enquiries
being made, with the result that several other similar
wandering gangs were discovered and counted.

But to resume this record of my adventures, which
is now drawing to a close ; indeed, so far as it would be of
any further interest to sporting readers it may be said
to have ended automatically with the disaster, since,
shortly after it and for many years afterwards, my
life was passed in the humdrum existence of an ordinary
Indian station, where anything approaching to a sporting
adventure was less likely to be met with than in Piccadilly
or Pall Mall. For, as already hinted, with the reaction
generally following on a period of intense excitement, such
as I had just experienced, I found, shortly after my return
to the station, that life in the jungle with all its attendant
attractions which had hitherto possessed so strong a
fascination for me, now seemed gradually to be losing its
charms, till at length I came to look upon it with such
feelings of horror that I vowed I would never enter a jungle
again. My love of sport, too, which I had imagined nothing
could have diminished, had changed to a feeling almost of
abhorrence from the moment I had seen my faithful old
attendant lying helpless and bleeding underneath the tiger.
This may appear to be an hysterical, or, at best, an
exaggerated view to take of an accident which, in big
game shooting, is always liable to occur, but by any one
who has had the misfortune to witness such a scene as I
have attempted to describe, these feelings will be readily
understood. Under these circumstances, it was obviously
useless to remain on in a district of this kind, and the fact
that both my friends, Miles and the Doctor, were shortly
about to take furlough, acting as an additional incentive,
I made up my mind to try and get away too. Accordingly,
when some three months later an opportunity occurred

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

of obtaining a transfer, I availed myself of it at once, and
was eventually posted to a district in that portion of the
province generally known as Eastern Bengal.

Before leaving I had a final interview with my old
shikari, who, except for his withered arm, had now fully
recovered, and, evidently as keen as ever, had hardly been
out of hospital a week when he accompanied Miles and the
others on another tiger-hunt. He had brought the news
of the " kill " to me first as usual, and when I told him
I had given up shooting, and why, had seemed much per-
plexed, my reasons being apparently quite beyond his
comprehension, till at length it appeared suddenly to
strike him that I was probably suffering from some tem-
porary derangement of the brain which would presently
adjust itself.

" But what will the Sahib do when he is better if, as
he says, in the place to which he is going there is nothing
to shoot ? " he said, ignoring my explanation, as if quite
confident that with the restoration of my mental equili-
brium all would come right again, according to his ideas.
" The Huzoor, like all other Sahibs," he continued, meaning
my predecessors, " will assuredly come back to Jalpaigori,
where he will find his servant always present." The
possibility that he might by then have been himself trans-
ferred to the happier hunting grounds seemed not to enter
into his calculations, despite his threescore years and ten.

I saw it was useless trying to make the old man under-
stand my feelings on the subject, so telling him that
perhaps I might return some day, and that in the mean-
time I had arranged for a sum to be paid monthly to him
as pension, dismissed him with the present of a hunting
knife I had purchased for this purpose. As he left the
compound I could hear him invoking all the ordinary
Hindu deities, and many others of the somewhat mixed
mythology he believed in, to pour down every blessing
on my head, and, above all, to devote all their energies
towards guiding my footsteps back to these jungles, this
being apparently the most important supplication he was
concerned with at the moment.

This was the last I saw of the fine old sportsman, for
although he lived for many years, as evidenced by my
278

EASTERN BENGAL

cheque-book, he died before I returned to Jalpaigori, but I
heard of him up to the last, and that to within a few weeks
of his death, which resulted from a cobra bite, he had
successfully manoeuvred the destruction of the largest
tiger ever shot in that district.

I left that night en route to join my new appointment,
travelling, on this occasion, the whole way by Palki to
Purneah, where I spent a day or two with my old friend
Burke. From there I drove the thirty miles to Calvert's
bungalow, and, spending the night there, took train next
morning for Calcutta. Here I happened luckily to hit
on a steamer leaving the same day for a place called
Goalundo, whence, after a day's voyage by steamer and
country boat through various winding rivers, I ultimately
reached Furreeidpur, the headquarters of my new district.

The station and, as I found later, also the district
were both vastly different to my recent jungle habitation,
the first being considerably larger, with properly con-
structed houses, instead of bungalows, standing in huge
compounds. It boasted, too, of Law Courts, substantially
built of brick, and of a size, as I found later, in proportion
to the requirements of the people, whose love of litigation
exceeded anything I had seen. The district was many
more miles in area, thickly populated all over, and being
lowlying and alluvial in its nature, was one of the principal
paddy-growing centres in the province. Of jungles,
properly so called, there were none, and, except for an
occasional wild boar, wild animals were unheard of.
The number of Europeans, however, were comparatively
few, beyond the usual district officials, of whom there were
but four, but most of these being married and some, the
senior ones, possessed of daughters, newly out from home,
the total white population, including some non-officials,
amounted to about a dozen in all.

I had not been many days installed in my new office
before I discovered that my hours of leisure would be few,
for crime, I found, was astonishingly prevalent ; but, as I
gained more knowledge of the people, I ceased to be sur-
prised, since, so far as I could judge, from past statistics,
one half of the population appeared to be composed
of most of the criminal classes in Bengal, while the

279

LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

standard of morality possessed by the rest seemed but
little higher. Finally, after some months of unremitting
toil, I was forced to the conclusion that it would be useless
to continue, for while, owing to these efforts, some of the
principal leaders of these gangs were now occasionally
arrested, the amount of false swearing indulged in by both
sides made it quite impossible for the Courts to convict
in any of the cases, and so it went on till at length I
realized that evidence in this district was a marketable
commodity, to be purchased for a sum, varying in amount
according to its importance and the status of the witness.
Indeed, to best describe the district and its people briefly,
I cannot do better than quote the following verse from a
poem written by a Bengal civilian-poet, who had served
for many years in these parts, and apparently had one of
these districts in mind when writing. I cannot quite
recall the exact wording of the verse, but, so far as I
remember, it ran somewhat in this strain : —

" Our church as at present it stands
Has neither a parson nor steeple.
The lands are all low-lying lands,

And the people are low, lying, people."

Yet, strangely enough, sordid, cunning and intriguing
as was the general character of these people, they were by
no means deficient in courage, a quality rarely seen in
combination with such natures, and the presence of which
added considerably to my troubles, leading as it did to
frequent sanguinary contentions and riots, often ending in
loss of life. However, by an ingenious, though perhaps
somewhat arbitrary interpretation of the law empowering
enrolment of special constables, we contrived eventually
to nip some of these impending disturbances in the bud,
and finally to stamp out this class of crime altogether.

The process was as simple as it proved invariably
effective in all cases reported in good time, when imme-
diately on receipt of the information the leaders of each
party were promptly appointed special constables and
called in at once to the police-station concerned to fill
the gaps caused by the deputation of the " regulars " to
the village or villages in question. Meanwhile the subject
matter of the dispute was enquired into and finally referred
280

A CRIMINAL POPULATION

to the Court,, where it was decided with all possible despatch,
and, as a rule, to the mutual satisfaction of both parties,
or at worst, in such a manner as to prevent any recru-
descence for some time to come.

" Dacoities," burglaries, and thefts, however, still
continued to be committed with unabated frequency, and
it was only when an occasional, supposedly repentant,
culprit confessed to his crime that such cases were detected,
and even then it was often doubtful whether such con-
fession was genuine or extorted. For, despite the then
recently remodeled and, believed to be, purified police
force, there was still the suspicion that the detective methods
of the old police " Darogahs," * of which confessions,
elicited by torture, was one of the chief features, had not
as yet been quite forgotten or abandoned.

Many were the stories, still current in the district,
of the doings of these bygone myrmidons of the law,
especially as to the various measures they adopted for
eliciting information or confessions from witnesses or
prisoners as the case might be; of these, two perhaps
merit special mention, if only for the devilish ingenuity
with which they were conceived.

For the first, the services of a beetle were enlisted,
preferably one of the burrowing kind, which, being placed
on the victim's stomach, was covered over with a glass, or
other concave vessel. The insect, thus finding itself a
prisoner, might wander round the prison for a while, but
eventually, following its natural instincts, would proceed
to burrow into the flesh, till the agony caused by this
process elicited the information required.

The second plan was, if possible, even more ingenious
besides possessing the additional merit of leaving no marks,
but could only be made use of when two or more persons
were " put to the question " at one time, and provided
they both had beards or moustaches, which, as the bulk
of the population was Mohammedan, were generally
available.

Given then that the persons to be operated on were

* Station officers of the old — practically unsupervised — police force
were styled Darogahs, and, being more or less omnipotent, were often a
terror to the people in out-of-the-way localities.

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LIFE IN THE INDIAN POLICE

possessed of one or other of these appendages, the operation
was performed in the following manner. The subjects to
be treated were made to stand close together, facing each
other, and their beards or moustaches being connected
together with thin twine, the men were held firmly in
this position by some of the operators, while another
administered a pinch of snuff to each, continuing the excru-
ciating process till the confession, or information, wanted
was extracted.

With these examples of police ingenuity, and many
others more clumsy, but none the less fiendish in conception,
it would obviously have been dangerous to insist on a higher
standard of efficiency, lest there should be a recurrence of
such happenings, some of which, I was told, had taken
place in comparatively recent times. I concluded, there-
fore, that of the two, it was best to choose the lesser evil,
as my predecessors apparently had done. Nevertheless,
to one responsible, as I was, for the efficiency of the force,
it was heartrending to find these offences against pro-
perty being committed night after night with unceasing
repetition, when I felt that, with a trustworthy police
force, they might have been stamped out altogether, or,
at any rate, considerably reduced. In this respect, how-
ever, I was but one of many, for the heads of every district
police force in Bengal, indeed throughout India, are more
or less handicapped in this manner, since individual effort
however persevering and untiring can effect but little
good if unsupported; how much less then if opposed,
passively though it be, not only by the subordinate police,
but also by the people, with whom briber}^ and corruption
of all kinds are traditionary institutions, amounting almost
to unwritten law, to be cherished and made use of when
the opportunity occurs.

Under these circumstances it will not be surprising to
learn that when, at the end of two long years of unrequited
labour, my furlough falling due, I was glad to make this
the excuse for severing my connection with this district
and its people, both so aptly described in the verse I have
quoted; the last two lines of which might, I fear, be as
truthfully applied to many other districts in that portion
of Bengal. However, the knowledge I had gained stood
282

CALL OF THE WILDS

me in good stead, for this experience of the seamy side of
human nature, as exhibited by these people, proved in-
valuable when later in my service I was called upon to
decide questions of importance in which the truth often
lay even deeper than " at the bottom of a well." Never-
theless, a week or so later, as I was slowly retracing my way
along those deep, winding snake-like rivers, so singularly
suggestive of the people inhabiting their shores, I felt
much as the prisoner must feel who, after two long years
of confinement and compulsory, uncongenial labour,
finds himself once more a free agent. For again the spell
of the jungles had come over me, and I found myself once
more longing for its wild untrammelled life, but, alas !
on my return from furlough the exigencies of the service
kept me employed for many years in more civilized but less
interesting districts of the province. But throughout
this long period of uncongenial toil, " the call of the
wilds " was for ever ringing in my ears, till at length, my
old district falling vacant, I applied for and obtained a
re-transfer, but only to find that time had wrought such
drastic changes that it was difficult to believe the place
could be the same I had known.

A railway now traversed the largest of its jungles,
with tea-gardens, at intervals, on each side of the line,
and where in former years elephants, tigers and rhinoceri
had held undisputed sway the managers of these gardens
now reigned in their stead ; while the noisy " tom-toms,"
accompanying revels of their coolies, were now the only
noises of the night.

Sic transit gloria mundi, I thought to myself, best
expressed the situation, when after two further years of
service I submitted my application to retire, for with the
passing of the jungles the glory had indeed departed from
these wilds, which, no longer a paradise for the sportsman,
soon became the centre of an industry destined to develop
into one of the greatest in Bengal.

283

POSTSCRIPT

As I read through these recollections and find how vividly
each incident and adventure, some of which date back
to forty years ago, are impressed upon my mind, I cannot
fail to realize how grateful Anglo-Indians in particular
should be, to a Providence who in its wisdom has ordained
that with advancing age, events which marked their earlier
years of life should be so indelibly recorded on the tablets
of the memory ; since, but for this providential dispensa-
tion, the pensioned, and often penurious, after-years of
most retired Indian officials would be shorn of much that
makes their lives still worth the living.

For such memories of the past must necessarily be dear
to most of them, recalling as they do not only a period of
activity, usefulness, and power, but of many an exciting
incident and adventure in which they have taken part,
for it must be remembered that in the India of forty years
ago, those who helped to govern her were, many of them,
employed in districts far removed from telegraph and rail,
hence often called upon to decide important questions on
the spot and without assistance or advice.

Such freedom of action necessarily at times gave rise
to situations which, in the present day, could probably
only be dealt with after voluminous correspondence and
much expenditure of red tape ; were then generally
disposed of summarily by the process commonly known
as rule of thumb. Thus the Indian officials of the period,
embraced in these recollections, had many opportunities
not only of displaying their individual capabilities, but of
experiencing incidents and adventures both interesting
at the time and pleasing to recall.

But apart from the official reminiscences there must
always have been in most Anglo-Indian lives, other
memories as pleasing in their way : to the sportsman, for
284

POSTSCRIPT

example, memories connected with big game shooting, of
a kind as rare and varied as any to be obtained in countries
less accessible and with infinitely less trouble. Nor to the
man who had found his pleasure in society, would such
retrospection fail to be agreeable, for in the larger stations
and during periods of leave to the hills, Anglo-Indian life
can also be exceeding enjoyable from the social point of
view.

True, India as a field for the writer has already perhaps
been overmuch exploited, but mostly in the form of fiction,
for, except in the case of the great Mutiny, few writers have
recorded their personal experiences of the country and none,
so far as I am aware, of life in the Indian police.

In these circumstances, I am encouraged to hope that
this record of recollections of a life in that service, covering
a period of three-and-thirty years, may, if only for the
novelty of the subject, prove of sufficient interest to justify
its production.

But it is to the sportsman, past and present, that these
memories may probably most appeal, for there must be
many amongst this brotherhood, who have hunted in the
jungles of Bengal, and more, no doubt, who would have done
so if they could. Even to these, however, the incidents
should be interesting, for with all true sportsmen, to read of
the experiences of others, if occasionally somewhat tantaliz-
ing, is none the less enjoyable for that reason.

Be this as it may, to all who have been kind enough to
wade through these recollections, I offer my apologies for
the many defects and imperfections of style, language, and
construction, that they may probably have found, for
although blessed with a passably good memory, I can
make no claim to be possessed of the literary gift without
which facts, however well remembered and abundant,
cannot be as attractively reproduced.

THE END

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BY THE SAME AUTHOR

"DULALL THE FOREST GUARD"

A Tale of Sport and Adventure in the Forests of Bengal.

SOME PRESS OPINIONS

The Scotsman, November 15, 1909. — " It is capital reading as a story, and
the scenery, natural history, hunting lore, and native customs are obviously
drawn from personal observation."

Publishers' Circular, November 20, 1909. — " Mr. Gouldsbury knows the
country well, and his narrative bears the impression of reality."

Morning Post, November 29, 1909. — " Mr. Gouldsbury, late of the Bengal
Police, has written a bright, realistic little book on sport and adventure in the
Bengal forests . . .. his descriptions are so lifelike, he knows so much of hunting
lore and native customs, that he must have written from personal observation.
. . . The chief character is Dulall Sing, a forest guard. ... He is true to
life, the embodiment of several skilled Shikaris. . . . There is no need to select
particular incidents as more exciting or interesting than others. Perhaps the
description of the tiger-shoot ... is as good as any. But there are other
scenes also which Mr. Gouldsbury has depicted with light touches and evident
accuracy. . . . Mr. Gouldsbury tells his story simply and tersely. . . . Not
only boys, but older people also will read this little book with pleasure. This
cannot be said of every book on sport."

Freeman's Journal, November 26, 1909. — " The author has exceptional
qualifications for writing a story of this sort. . . . The book is well written,
and is both interesting and amusing. . . . The author holds out the hope . . .
that he may be inclined to further describe the doings of Dulall, and we trust
he may do so."

Neiocastle Chronicle, November 26, 1909. — " Mr. C. E. Gouldsbury has
turned the experience he gained as an officer in the Indian Police to fine advan-
tage in ' Dulall the Forest Guard.' . . . Mr. Gouldsbury . . . can tell a good
story well, and that is not, after all, such a common acquirement."

Broad Arrow, November 27, 1909. — " This is a good account by a late member
of the Indian Police of sporting holidays in search of big game in the forests of
Bengal. . . . The author spins a good yarn, which will no doubt find many
readers."

u i

SOME PRESS OPINIONS

Outlook, December 4, 1909. — " Some smaller books to which we gladly call
attention are . . . ' Dnlall the Forest Guard,' by C. E. Gouldsbury."

Field, December 4, 1909. — " A pleasant tale of sport and adventure in the
forests of Bengal is told by Mr. C. E. Gouldsbury in ' Dulall the Forest Guard.'
. . . The adventures which ensued are well told. . . . The author's own ex-
perience of an Indian forest and knowledge of the way in which tiger hunting
is carried out with the aid of elephants and beaters has enabled him to indite
some realistic description and to give the proper local colour to his story. With
the exception of a frontispiece . . . there are no illustrations ; nor, indeed,
are any needed, for the narrative is so complete in detail as to be sufficiently
convincing."

Bookseller, December, 1909. — " The writer of this vivid and lifelike story
of sport and adventure is . . . an ex-officer of the Indian Police. . . . For the
purposes of his story he imagined . . . two active young fellows . . . who
have come out to India . . . and spent part of their leisure in sporting expedi-
tions . . . under the charge of one Dulall Sing, an old . . . forest guard. His
portrait is so graphically drawn that we cannot help quoting. . . . The author,
as we have already seen, possesses the gift of vivid descriptions, and he also
knows how to make the best of a dramatic and exciting situation. His book,
therefore, carries conviction with it, and the reader is only too sorry when the
end is reached . . . and any one who reads the present volume will await its
successor with eager anticipation."

Literary World, December, 1909.—" In ' Dulall the Forest Guard ' Mr. C. E.
Gouldsbury recites the adventures and exploits of two . . . young Englishmen
in the forests. ... He writes in a natural and cheery style, which is in keeping
with his subject. . . . Dulall ... is a quaintly interesting personage. The
book will be thoroughly appreciated by all lovers of sport."

Manchester Daily Guardian, December 15, 1909. — " ' Dulall the Forest
Guard ' ... is a book of out-of-the-way sport and life in India. . . . Much of
it is curious, and some of it exciting. Mr. Gouldsbury has made a patient
study of old Dulall. He has been in many of the dangerous situations which
sport in India provides. The book is a simple, pleasant narrative."

Birmingham Daily Post, December 22, 1909. — " The author wa3 at one time
in the Indian Police, and he paints a series of vivid pictures of life in the Empire."

Academy, January 1, 1910. — " The title disguises a record of some of the
adventures of the author in India. . . . When writing of sport in his boyhood,
Mr. Gouldsbury 's style is simple, fresh, and attractive. He becomes a boy
again. . . . We assure our readers that this book is a true account of Indian
sport and travel, and we think they will ask Mr. Gouldsbury ... to continue
these adventures and relate the further doings of ' Dulall the Forest Guard.' "

ii

SOME PRESS OPINIONS

The Englishman (Calcutta), December 23, 1909.—" ' Dulall the Forest
Guard ' ... is an interesting little book which gives a very fair idea of the
country and general Shikar, and also portrays the faithfulness of the . . .
Shikaris to the life."

Spectator, January 18, 1910. — " Readable novels . . . ' Dulall the Forest
Guard ' . . . a tale of sport . . . with some glimpses of life among English
and natives."

Daily Telegraph, February 16, 1910.—" ' Dulall the Forest Guard.' The
author of this fresh, breezy book, Mr. C. E. Gouldsbury, is an old member of
the Indian Police, and it is clear from his lively story that he is a good sports-
man who has seen many adventures in pursuit of big game. His book can
hardly be described as a novel ... it is rather an easy-going, unaffected
narrative of a holiday in the jungle. . . . Mr. Gouldsbury, in a bright, unaffected
fashion, tells his tale of tiger and bear . . . with plenty of spirit and good
will. All lovers of good sport will enjoy this book, and we echo the author's
hope that he will return to his task again and recall some further escapades of
Dulall the forest guard."

Tlie Asian, Calcutta, April 23, 1910. — " A recently published book which
we have read with considerable interest is Mr. C. E. Gouldsbury's ' Dulall the
Forest Guard.' Though Mr. Gouldsbury's story treats of an India that has
passed away, we do not find it the less entertaining now — let us say at once —
less helpful to the young sportsman on that score. . . . Briefly it deals with
the adventures of two young men who came out to the country . . . and are
lucky enough to obtain big game shooting . . . under the guidance of an
exceptionally good Shikari, whose name lends the book its title. . . . We have
said that the book is one helpful to the young sportsman, and we think those
who read it will find reason to share our opinion. There is a great deal to be
said in favour of gaining experience before putting pen to paper, but there is
also much to be said in favour of writing while first impressions are vivid. . . .
Mr. Gouldsbury has combined both methods. Though it is thirty years since
... his memory of those first jungle days remain as clear as though of yesterday,
and we see the forest scenes through the wondering eyes of delighted novicehood.
Conscious that book-knowledge is as nothing beside practical work, he sur-
rendered himself to the tutelage of Dulall and thus learnt much from that past-
master in jungle-craft. Incidentally we obtain some interesting light on the
usages of such men when dealing with beasts and their own lives. The book is
thoroughly readable, and having enjoyed it we look forward with pleasure to
the fulfilment of the author's half promise to write more of the doings of Dulall.
. . . Mr. Gouldsbury has manifested a stock of good wares still to show us. . . .
In any case we shall have a ready-made welcome for further news of Dulall."

Madras Times, May 14, 1910. — " This book is chiefly to be recommended to
boys, and for them it may receive a very high recommendation. What boy
does not love to read about shooting adventures in a forest ? This book teems
with them. Wild elephants, tigers, bears . . . contribute their quota of

iii

SOME PRESS OPINIONS

excitement, and all find themselves opposed by the profound jungle lore of the
forest guard, Dulall. . . . But whereas many . . . books of adventure are
written by arm-chair sportsmen who are quite ignorant of the countries and
animals . . . they describe, Mr. Gouldsbury's is a very accurate description
of Indian jungle life by one who is evidently thoroughly conversant with the
conditions he describes. . . . The story is told in a simple, straightforward
manner, and should be very dear to the hearts of schoolboys. Incidentally it
is no mean guide to the ways of beasts in the Bengal jungles, and the advice of
Dulall is thoroughl}7 reliable."

Indian Field, June 16, 1910. — " This is an interesting little volume . . .
relating to the Indian jungle. . . . The chapters are full of vivid interest, and
every page possesses a charm of its own as the narrator unfolds his thrilling
experiences. The biggest of big game and the hunt for the great Bengal tiger
are here described as only a great shikari can describe ; but the writer's tour
deforce is the rollicking humour which pervades the whole book. The hero . . .
is a veteran Shikari called Dulall Sing. . . . The many virtues with which this
quaint individual is invested . . . and his dog-like devotion . . . rivals any-
thing yet heard of in history or romance. Here is an admirable pen-picture
of this Caleb Balderstone seated as he is on the leading elephant ' ready to take
the field,' a thin, withered little old man. . . . Mr. Gouldsbury's book has the
merit of being an eminently reasonable one. We hope to have some day a
continuation of this bright, amusing yarn and the further doings of Dulall."

Sunday Times, September 18, 1910. — " A tale of sport and adventure in the
forest of Bengal. . . . The incident and adventures are ably recounted, and
the whole makes interesting reading. It is further written by one who knows
his subject from the inside."

Rangoon Times, September 10, 1910. — " ' Dulall the Forest Guard.' . . .
This is a book which is bound to become a great favourite with young and old
... for these tales of hunting big game in India are told by a man who must
be a great Shikari himself. The story is given with all the practical details that
nowadays is looked for in a sporting story. ... In old days when an author
. . . knew little of the country through which they made their travels. But
Mr. Gouldsbury is evidently intimately acquainted with Indian forest scenery
and the sounds . . . that break the silence of the night in the deep tree jungles,
. . . and the author's powers of description are very considerable, and he
knows how to excite and enchain the reader's interest. . . . The picture of the
' thin, withered little old man ' has been drawn with very considerable skill,
while his fidelity . . . will make him a great favourite with the reader."

Daily Mirror, October 15, 1910. — " An unpretentious book ! . . . The
author strings together a series of incidents in the early experience of big game
shooting ... in India. The result is good. The stories of danger from
tiger and rogue elephant . . . are convincing, and the simple way in which
they are told does not detract from their charm."

iv

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