i8 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



long confinement in the house the open air, hot though 

 it is, feels pleasant. I now take my evening drive ; it 

 is dusk before I return. The time that follows is the 

 pleasantest in the day. I have my tea — a meal in this 

 hot weather very enjoyable. Then I read, or, if there 

 is a moon, I sit outside. The Indian moonlight is 

 always beautiful ; even though obscured by the haze 

 of dust, it still preserves its soft, dreamy radiance. I 

 often sit till near midnight tranquilly enjoying it. 



In this manner, but little varied, the hot weather 

 days pass by, very monotonous, often wearisome, yet 

 leaving a memory of calm tranquillity not unpleasing. 



It remains to say a few words on the weather. The 

 heat is extreme. It is something that only those who 

 have experienced it can fully realize. Nevertheless, 

 owing to its perfect dryness, it is not unhealthy, nor, 

 so long as the wind blows from the west, is it within 

 the house at all oppressive. A bamboo frame is very 

 lightly thatched with the fibrous roots of a certain 

 grass. The frame, which when thus thatched is 

 termed the tattie, is then placed in one of the outer 

 doorways, and kept continually wetted. The burning 

 wind evaporates the moisture, and in doing so its own 

 temperature is lowered. It passes into the house re- 

 freshingly cool. It also diffuses a faint but agreeable 

 aroma. For the grass roots have the peculiarity of 

 possessing a natural scent. This grass is of a very 

 coarse description ; it is termed by the natives " khus," 

 a name by Europeans altered into " kuskus." The roots 

 are, or were, imported into this country, and used by 

 perfumers. I saw some once years ago in a shop in 



