46 THE IMAGE OF WAR 



practically uneatable, and spotted deer, antelope, and 

 gazelle are dry and tasteless. To my mind the most 

 toothsome of all Indian animals is the porcupine. 

 But I am digressing from my subject. 



Having got leave without difficulty, I and a non- 

 shooting companion started in a hired tonga or Indian 

 dog -cart, about half- past five the evening before. 

 This left us about an hour's daylight, which ought 

 to have been ample, but unfortunately neither we 

 nor the driver knew the road ; and going on my 

 general knowledge of the whereabouts when his gave 

 out entirely, we wandered on through cotton-fields 

 and across dried-up torrent-beds until long after dark. 

 However, all's well that ends well, and at last we 

 reached the bottom of a steep avenue which wound 

 up a hillside, at the top of which we could see the 

 white bungalow. Up and up the road wound, and 

 as the precipitous bank was entirely unprotected, it 

 may be imagined that we lost no time in jumping 

 out when the tonga ponies, by commencing to jib, 

 gave us a hint that they would prefer a lighter load 

 to drag up. A few paces more brought us to the 

 house which, except in its situation, did not differ 

 greatly from most dawk-bungalows. This particular 

 house of call, however, not being near a high-road, 

 was not primarily intended for travellers' accommo- 

 dation, but for the use of those officers of the Irri- 

 gation and Forest Services whose duties called them 

 to the spot. 



It was dinner-time when we arrived, and before 

 very long we were seated at table in the verandah, 

 enjoying the lovely scene which lay before our eyes. 

 To the right and close to the bungalow itself lay 

 the hund or embankment of the tank^ a gigantic wall 



