272 THE IMAGE OF WAE 



stated in Indian papers that these reserves account 

 for the large increase of tigers in some districts ; 

 and I think that this is very likely to be the case. 



Having, then, obtained a favourable report as to 

 the chances of getting something to shoot, and in- 

 duced three others of the garrison to promise to 

 accompany me, I proceeded to make the necessary 

 arrangements. In England the idea of furnishing 

 an empty house for a couple of days would strike 

 a householder with horror. In India one contem- 

 plates the idea of sending out tables, chairs, beds 

 and bedding, baths, and even cooking utensils, with 

 equanimity — the result of residence in a country 

 where every man has his tent, as in England he has 

 his umbrella. It was consequently only necessary to 

 give the order that we were going to such and 

 such a place for so many days, and the thing 

 seemed to arrange itself On the actual day of 

 departure we were, perhaps, a little short of glass 

 and plate, but hardly sufficiently so to show that 

 the furniture for a house had departed early that 

 morning. 



As the sun's rays decreased in intensity our horses 

 were brought round and we mounted. At the same 

 time our body-servants, carrying those endless parcels 

 that a native servant never will dispense with, 

 started off in a tonga or Indian dog-cart. We had 

 some greyhounds with us, but our route soon lay 

 among rocky valleys where there was no chance of 

 sport, as, though we found several times, the dogs 

 soon lost sight of their game. Towards sunset we 

 reached the bungalow and found everything ready 

 for our reception. To be sure, there were some 

 things to remind us that we were not at home, as, 



