| Description | "We are all well and are still enjoying most charming climate. I suppose we shall still catch it in the summer but as I hope to spend three months of that in the hills where I can pick my own climate I do not anticipate much annoyance. I am agreeably surprised with India, tho' it is not a place I should like to live in and shall not wish to stay a day longer than was absolutely necessary. The pay no doubt is the great thing and that certainly is very good. I have fitted myself out here completely with everything, horses, furniture and all the many requisites for a house and send home £50 a month regularly and shall soon be able to send home double that sum monthly which will soon clear me in England." Have just been hunting wild boar in the jungle on the banks of the Sutledge. Partly comprised 6 men and 2 ladies (and his wife), 14 elephants and 150 beaters, over 10 days, but killed only 2 pigs and 3 deer and some wild geese - "not any easy thing to shoot off an elephant particularly as when the pigs charge the line many elephants trumpet and turn around, they won't stand a charge of boar. Kate and her companion who were in a Howdah to themselves got into a quick sand and were nearly upset as the first thing an elephant does when it finds itself sinking is to roll on its side in order to present a broad surface. This, to the people in Howdah is far from pleasant, it ended by them being turned out into 4 feet of water and being wet through all day, but it might have been much worse. The ridiculous part of it was that we were all in the same mess more or less and could render no assistance. I myself was right up to the elephants belly in the swamp clinging for dear life to prevent being thrown out from the brute's struggles to free myself. You can't think how helpless one is on the top of an elephant when he takes it into his head to be restive ... We expect the new C in Chief, Sir W. Mansfield here very shortly on his way to Calcutta. I am rubbing up for him as he is not at all particular who he abuses. I expect to be senior officer here in a few days. Our head man, Colonel Sistrap(?) an old India hand is going away and I shall get the command as I believe I shall not be replaced. |