FROM KASHMIR TO KUSSOWLIE. 123 



Things have taken a different turn since then, and 

 it is confessedly the best thing a young soldier can 

 aspire to. I know that my present line is one which 

 leads to more pecuniary advantages ; but the other 

 is the finer field, and is far more independent. I 

 shall work away, however, cheerfully in the civil 

 line until I see a good opening in the other, and 

 then I fear you will hardly persuade me that sitting 

 a^ a desk with the thermometer at 98° is better 

 than soldiering — i.e., than commanding soldiers 

 made and taught by yourself!" 



Returning to Amritsar in the middle of November, 

 Hodson was " up to the neck in work " for about 

 three weeks before joining his new chief at Lahore. 

 Here he found his work both |)leasanter and freer 

 from routine than that which he had left behind. 

 At Lahore he employed his leisure "in cramming 

 Hindi for a useless examination in a tongue 

 unknown on this side the Ganges." He was 

 getting " tired of zeal — it is unprofitable. For the 

 future I mean to take mine ease. I see that men 

 who do so get on better than I do, and enjoy them- 

 selves much more ! So good-bye to enthusiasm and 

 zeal and all that sort of thing. I have hitherto 

 worked hard, it does not pay, and I shall try what 

 taking it coolly will do. Seven fevers, a broken 

 constitution, a bald head, and a character for hard 

 work are all that I have gained, and it is time to 

 try another line." ^ 



His temper at this time seems to have been ruffled 

 by the snubbings he had incurred from the author- 

 ities — " no one knows why or wherefore." 



February 21, 1851, the anniversary of Gujarat, 



1 Letters supplied by Miss Hodson. 



