A GREAT PROCONSUL 131 



to one in a camp peopled by scores, possibly by 

 hundreds, and surrounded by many of the comforts 

 and some of the luxuries of so-called civilisation. 

 Elephants mean a big bandobast, and often what 

 I detest above all things (and quite as much in 

 England as elsewhere) " women out shooting." 



Accordingly I have up to now refused the kind 

 invitations which I have received to shoot off 

 elephants. 



But I gratefully accepted John Hewett's in- 

 vitation to join him in his United Provinces 

 Terai shoot, first because his bandobasts are, I 

 had always been given to understand, absolutely 

 perfect, and chiefly because I like and admire 

 both him and his wife. 



Like all strong, capable men, " Jack " Hewett 

 doubtless has his enemies, and I have heard it 

 said that he has at times been administratively 

 unconventional. 



In my somewhat exceptional experience of 

 men, I have rarely, very rarely, met a really 

 clever man who was either unscrupulous or un- 

 truthful. Putting aside the ethical considera- 

 tion, tortuous methods " do not pay." Truth 

 and straight dealing are really the weapons on 

 which a clever man relies, and Hewett is undeniably 

 a very clever man. He certainly is a marvellously 

 successful Lieutenant-Governor, and his adminis- 

 tration of the United Provinces of Agra and Oude 

 reflect as much credit on English rule as on himself. 



All of which means that on March 2gth I started 

 for Lucknow anticipating a delightful and some- 

 what novel experience, and my anticipations have 

 been amply fulfilled. 



10 



