96 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



and grandness of these mountains is softened with such 

 a gentle beauty, that they have completely won my 

 heart, and have made me decide for many reasons to 

 put off my visit to Bengal for some months ; when I do 

 go, I shall consider myself bound to spend all the rest 

 of the time with the two H's. I may as well here ease 

 your mind by stating the reasons which have made me 

 so alter my plans. The Himalayas I entirely give up. 

 First, this part of India is much the most healthy, and 

 I cannot but feel that I should overdo myself if I take 

 the immense journey I at first planned. Had I not 

 knocked about so much before this Indian trip, I would 

 not think a second ; but I feel a longing to be stationary 

 for a little. Secondly, the shooting in this Presidency 

 is the only kind in India that would please me. In 

 Bombay and Bengal everything in the sporting line is 

 done on elephants, and the real habits of animals are 

 never seen. Now you know me well enough to know 

 I don't care for fuss and bother stalking is all I care a 

 pin for. I don't think I shall take even my guns to 

 Bengal. You will see by the adventures I spin out 

 what funny sights I see by following every animal 

 among his native haunts. I am quite an authority even 

 now among old sportsmen from nothing but my mode 

 of shooting. Thirdly, I don't mind telling you now, as 

 it is all over, but the amount of uphill work I have had, 

 and the endless vexation and bother what with servants 

 and many other little crosses I have cleared myself of 

 has made me work up in the ins and outs of this part of 

 the world, and I feel quite at home, so don't want to 

 have it all again. Fourthly, I have made such a friend. 

 A Colonel Hamilton. 1 Does the name strike you ? 



1 The Colonel, afterwards General Douglas Hamilton, mentioned in 

 this letter, is the author of Records of Sport in Southern India. I met him 

 in after years at Colebrooke, where he was ever a welcome guest ; his 



