38 MAJOR W. HODSON. 



country at home. When the said wind becomes 

 a hot one, as it is rapidly doing by this time of 

 year, the nuisance is terribly aggravated, and tents 

 become almost unbearable — I might say quite, but 

 that they must be borne. However, we have had 

 great luck in the weather ever since I became a 

 nomad and a denizen of tents ; and it has so 

 many attractions that I like it very well, especi- 

 ally when anything is going on : now, however, 

 when merely marching home, and at this season 

 of the year, it is getting disagreeable. We march 

 at 3 in the morning to get to our new ground 

 before the heat of the day begins ; but I imagine 

 the thermometer is about 98° or from that to 

 105° in tents even now, and it is cool for the 

 time of year ! " 



In the same letter Hodson treats his friend to 

 some outspoken criticisms on the course of the late 

 campaign : — 



"England, I see, is ringing with the deeds of 

 the ' army of the Satlaj.' How would it not be 

 roused from one end to the other were the whole 

 truth known ! Were the tissue of mismanao;e- 

 ment, blunders, errors, ignorance, and arrogance 

 displayed during ^he short but ' glorious ' campaign 

 exposed, the indignation excited by it would, I 

 trust, be the beginning of a new era for India. 

 The despatches are most disgraceful. The most 

 unblushing falsehoods are put forth, both as to 

 facts, figures, and individuals, with a coolness 

 worthy of Napoleon. I have little hopes, how- 

 ever, of any improvement. Success — ultimate 

 success — throws its cloak of charity over un- 

 numbered errors, and in a few months it will be 



