232 GNATS OR MOSQUITOES — CHAPTER VIII 



which is murderous enough in Europe, is clearly no better 

 in India, as it leaves a large surface unprotected just at 

 the time when Mosquitoes are most persistent in their 

 attacks. As regards children, mothers should deny them- 

 selves the pleasure of exhibiting their chubby limbs, at any 

 rate in the evening ; but as httle boys really look " sweet " 

 in absolutely correct "sailor suits," with nautically cut but 

 long pantaloons, there is no real difficulty in their case. 

 The poor little girls, however, are again in a different case, 

 as long stockings thick enough to be any good would 

 cause unbearable irritation of the skin, and probably afford 

 staphylococci the opportunity to start a most debilitating 

 crop of boils ; and I fear it is no use pointing out that the 

 "pantalettes" portrayed in Leach's drawings, in which 

 their grandmothers disported themseves, would solve the 

 difficulty ; unless indeed we can contrive to initiate a sort 

 of Chippendale reaction for infantile millinery in their 

 favour. 



As a rule the Anglo-Indian has no alternative in the 

 selection of his bungalow and must accept that occupied by 

 his predecessor, or camp out. The better class of native 

 gentlemen are beginning to see the superiority of the 

 European plan of villa to such an extent that it is often 

 difficult to find accommodation in what were once purely 

 European quarters. So much is this the case that the 

 provision of quarters built by Government is seriously 

 mooted ; but I should be sorry to serve in India, even if 

 housed in them gratuitously instead of compelled to rent 

 them, as, owing to the high standard of work demanded by 

 the department, the largest proportion of the money allotted 

 for their construction will be required to secure technically 

 perfect masonry, and a cramped heat trap, with no proper 

 plinth or adequate through ventilation, but of beautifully 

 pointed red brick, will necessarily result. There is a rule, 

 perfectly reasonable, were it not rigid, that in such cases 

 the rent must bear a certain proportion to the outlay, and 

 that the former must be no more than a certain percentage 

 of the average income of the occupants ; and probably a 

 sufficiently healthy and commodious building, durable 



