WAITING FOR BETTER TIMES. 185 



vince ! These winter camps are very profitable, 

 however, and not by any means unpleasant ; and 

 as Ambfda was very full, we had an unusual amount 

 of society for India, and some very pleasant meet- 

 ings. I was too lame to dance, but not to dine 

 and take part in charades or tableaux and so forth, 

 and so contrived to keep alive after the day's work 

 was over. 1 got some kudos and vast kindness for 

 performing the more strictly professional role of 

 brigade-major to one of the infantry brigades, and 

 had excellent opportunities of learning the essential, 

 but so seldom taught or learned, art of manoeuvring 

 bodies of troops. My service has been so much on 

 the frontier and with detached corps that I had pre- 

 viously had but small opportunities for the study." 



In the same letter he goes on to describe the 

 result of his first interview with General Anson, the 

 new commander-in-chief: "He is a very pleasant- 

 mannered and gentlemanly man, open and frank 

 in speech, and quick to a proverb in apprehension, 

 taking in the pith of a matter at a glance. As 

 I always thought, it turned out that Major Taylor's 

 report had never reached the commander-in-chief, 

 and they had only the old one-sided story to go 

 upon. I explained the whole to him, and as he 

 had already very kindly read the papers relating 

 to the matter, he quite comprehended it, and begged 

 me to give him a copy of Taylor's report, when he 

 would, if satisfied, try and see justice done me. I 

 trust, therefore, that at last something will be done 

 to clear me from all stigma in the matter. As soon 

 as that is done he will give me some appointment 

 or other, unless Government do it themselves." 



The opportunity for which he was so anxiously 



