REST-HOUSE EXPERIENCE. 1 1 7 



superior to any ( .^liiiia I had ever tasted at home ; and 

 as for tlie rice and ciiny, George was a perfect master 

 of his art ; and liow different good Indian curry, made 

 of fresh ingredients and condiments, to the stale ready- 

 mixed stuff you huy at home in the shape of paste or 

 powder ! The pinions and liver of a fowl, a vegetable, 

 sardines or eggs, nay, even toast cut up small, make 

 excellent material for curry. 



The day was excessively hot, and impossible to stir- 

 beyond the verandah, which faced a dreary, sandy- 

 looking garden, in which trees struggled hard for an 

 existence ; all that showed life were a few shrubs, pro- 

 ducing a pretty butterfly -like flower of deep orange to 

 l)right scarlet. As soon as it got tolerably cool, I 

 renewed my journey, stopping at Heerasavi for supper. 

 Here the bungalow being occupied by two gentlemen, 

 who showed little civility, I made my stay as short as 

 possible, and managed to reach Hassan, an important 

 Mysore city, early next morning. In making the above 

 remark I must, however, in common justice state, that 

 as a rule one meets with the greatest attention and 

 assistance, when required, from one's fellow-travellers in 

 India. On a similar occasion, arriving late one evening 

 at the bungalow, and finding every room and corner in 

 it occupied by ladies, gentlemen, and children, I was at 

 once hospitably admitted into the midst of a party just 



