ROUND THE INDIAN MUSEUM. 93 



esplanade. But where is Mr. W. ? Gone to his club ? Oh 

 no, that is impossible ; he is to accompany his pupils 

 as far as the nearest cabstand. Good heavens ! there 

 he is ! ! sans shoes, sans socks, with trousers tucked up 

 at the knees, he is searching for something at the water's 

 edge in yonder tank in the maidan. Gentle reader! 

 your sense of propriety need not be shocked at this 

 undignified appearance of an Englishman, and a high 

 official to boot. Ask Vidyabhushan or any of the elder 

 Pandits, and they will tell you all about his pursuits 

 and predilections ; how, when out inspecting schools, 

 they have often seen him deliberately climbing some 

 roadside tree to look at bird's eggs, or spending hours 

 in watching butterflies disporting themselves in the air. 

 It was not long ago that he was found carrying a load 

 of rare plants which he had chanced to find in some 

 out of the way place. Vidyabhushan once asked him 

 why he took so much trouble about such trifles. What 

 do you think was his answer? It was characteristic 

 of him. He said that there was nothing trifling in 

 Nature, and, as for trouble, he loved constantly to refer 

 to his great mistress, meaning Nature, for knowledge 

 and experience. Let us observe what he has been do- 

 ing now. He is dipping up dirty water from the tank. 

 Just take note of the appliances. There is a small net 

 made of coarse muslin, its top part is sewn on to a steel 

 ring about six inches in diameter ; attached to the ring is 

 a ferrule which nicely fits into the end of Mr. W's 

 walking stick. The bottom part of the net, which is 



