118 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



generally to be propped up with stones under the feet, and 

 required delicate handling, and a light touch with the knife 

 and fork. If you stood up, and your head did not go 

 through the top of the tent, you invariably upset the 

 table. On warmer days we dine in our large tent. Here 

 there was room for two chairs — like the table, of a collap- 

 sible pattern — and they took a pride in unexpectedly dis- 

 playing their patent method of closing. One night Alan's 

 chair played this practical joke with such vigour that part of 

 its leg was broken short off as he fell to the ground. It 

 was impossible to mend it, so the other legs had to be cut 

 down to the same length, and, seated in this shortened 

 chair, his head was barely on a level with the dishes. 



Our servants are delighted at having nothing to do, 

 and stand in the hall, watching us at dinner. The cook 

 never takes his eyes off us, and carefully inspects the 

 various courses, with a view, I presume, to future experi- 

 ments. We went to bed early, just after a message came 

 to ask if there was anything else we required, as the Eaja's 

 servants were going home. And sure enough in a few 

 minutes Alan and I had the house to ourselves. A camp- 

 bed is not the softest of sleeping places, and I went to 

 sleep breathing a thanksgiving for a spring mattress. 



Monday. — I woke agreeably surprised to find the house 

 still there. Last night it had seemed so fairy-like that I 

 half expected to find myself back in a hill-tent in the 



