PROMOTION TO COMMAND OF THE GUIDES. 147 



mark, or nazahaze, which is, fixing a stake of twelve 

 or eighteen inches into the ground, which must be 

 taken up on the spear's point while passing it at 

 full gallop, or putting an orange on the top of a 

 bamboo a yard high, and cutting it through with 

 a sword at full speed. W. is very clever at this, 

 rarely failing, but the spears are too long for any 

 but a lithe native to wield without risking a broken 

 arm. The scene is most picturesque : the flying 

 horsemen in their flowing many-coloured garments, 

 and the grouping of the lookers-on, make me more 

 than ever regret not having ready pencil-power to 

 put them on paper. 



" The weather has been particularly unfavourable 

 to the progress of the fort, so that we are still in 

 our temporary hut and tents. Of course we feel 

 the heat much more so domiciled. W. is grievously 

 overworked ; still his health is wonderfully good, 

 and his spirits as wild as if he were a boy again. 

 He is never so well pleased as when he has the 

 baby in his arms." 



This sweet companionship lasted on till the first 

 days of June, when mother and child were packed 

 off on the inevitable summer visit to the Marri 

 Hills. " It is a sad necessity," writes the husband, 

 " and the curse of Indian life, this repeatedly recur- 

 ring separation ; but anything is better than to see 

 the dear ones suffer. I am fortunately very well, 

 and as yet untouched by the unusual virulence with 

 which the hot weather has commenced this year." 



He hoped to rejoin his wife and child in Septem- 

 ber, and accompany them back to their new home — 

 " for by that time I trust that my fortified canton- 

 ment will be ready, and our house too." 



