THE ROD IN INDIA. 



CHAPTER I. 

 INTRODUCTORY. 

 Apologia pro libra meo. 



NOT a few lovers of the gentle art are condemned by their calling to 

 pass the best years of their existence in India, sighing, amongst other 

 things, for the banks of Tweed, or Usk, or other familiar stream in 

 the old country, looking forward to the too far distant time when 

 furlough, or other favouring circumstance, shall take them home to 

 the land where they may again beguile the speckled beauties from the 

 stream, or once more do battle with the lordly salmon. To such it 

 may be a comfort to know that they need not wait so long for the 

 " good time coming," that there is as good fishing to be had in India 

 as in England ; and to minister such comfort to exiled anglers is my 

 present philanthropic object. 



I fancy there are not a few fishermen in India, good fishermen too,, 

 who know well how to fill a basket in England, who are, nevertheless, 

 entirely at a discount in India. Indeed, I have met such, and do not 

 mind confessing that I am myself a lamentable instance of that 

 distressed class, for whether or not I knew how to circumvent a trout 

 in England, I certainly could make nothing of the Mahseer in India, 

 and lost all too much time in learning the manners and customs of that 

 oriental gentleman. Sad indeed is the retrospect of golden oppor- 

 tunities lost ! What would I not have given to any one who would 

 then have put me in the way of seizing them ! To give this helping 

 hand, the benefit of my little experience, to brother anglers is my 



B 



