TIGER SLAYER BY ORDER 



adding that another time it would perhaps be better to 

 examine a snake's fangs before shooting it ! 



* * * # * 



My next station was Shikarpur, which enjoys the evil 

 reputation of being, during the hot season, the hottest 

 place in India. In fact, by those who have experienced 

 its fiery climate, it has often been described as " rivalling, 

 in their estimation, a certain warmer spot below, and only 

 separated from it by a sheet of thin brown paper." 



How far this comparison may be true, I am, fortunately, 

 not in a position to say, but judging from my knowledge of 

 places on the surface of the earth, it is quite the warmest 

 I have been in. And apparently the Government is of the 

 same opinion, for all officials posted there receive a com- 

 pensation allowance of Rs.100 a month as extra pay. 



The houses, too, are all built with thick mud walls and 

 have flat tops which are used at night to sleep on, and even 

 then it is only by sprinkling the bed from time to time with 

 water, and having a punkah overhead, that it is possible 

 to obtain a few hours' sleep. 



Some, indeed, go so far as to have a tub of water near 

 the bed to plunge into occasionally ; another drawback, 

 too, are the sand-flies which, numerous and persistent as 

 mosquitoes, are a perfect pest. 



There is no regular rainfall, but the vegetation is 

 maintained by a system of irrigation and the occasional 

 overflowing of the Indus river. A sandstorm at rare 

 intervals somewhat cools the atmosphere, but during the 

 hot weather we put in as much time as we could spare 

 at Sukkur on the Indus, where the cooler breezes of the river 

 made life somewhat more tolerable. 



Strangely enough, though, in spite of their hot dry 

 climate, the gardens, both at Shikarpur and Sukkur, are 

 exceptionally flourishing, full of the graceful date and palms, 

 and other tropical trees. 



The cold weather, though short, is quite severe, and 

 during this season excellent small-game shooting can be 

 had, especially at a place called Larkhana, where, on the 

 numerous tanks, there are wild fowl in plenty and snipe 

 also near the banks. Quail and partridge, too, are 

 plentiful, including the black and handsome variety of 

 108 



