ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA 3 



up of fresh tracts, conserving forests (hence the designations 

 of ' Conservator,' ' Deputy Conservator,' and so on, all 

 through the grades), the supplying of timber to merchants 

 for shipbuilding, masts, etc. ; produce-collecting of spices, 

 honey, beeswax, silk-cotton, turpentine, and many other 

 articles of commerce. His work takes him anywhere, and 

 at any time, if need arise. He is fortunate when, by drain- 

 age or cultivation, some deadly, dreaded area has been 

 reclaimed from the fever-fiend. But he has no choice ; go 

 he must often into the heart of a poison-breathing jungle, 

 or along the margin of some malaria-haunted swamp, his 

 supplies carried by any available men, possibly from villages 

 where smallpox or cholera is rife, either in full knowledge 

 of the fact or in ignorance of it, as may happen ; in either 

 case push on he must ; if his own coolies are down with 

 fever others have to be impressed, somehow, anyhow. He 

 is paid for risking his life, and the lives of his people — for 

 sowing seeds which will, sooner or later, come to the fatal 

 harvesting. ' Blood money ' indeed ! A pity were there 

 nothing of enjoyment or zest to counterbalance such hazards. 



Some men are of the pavements, others shun all that 

 savours of the city, and are at their happiest when turning 

 over stones, looking for some new ' find ' in the way of 

 beetles, frogs, and so forth, or searching out plants. Such 

 an one was my husband, and such were most of the men in 

 his service. As with other professions, so with this ; some 

 men merely drift into it, and, cordially hating the life and 

 all it entails, are of no good. My husband loved his work, 

 which, though arduous and dangerous, had a fascination 

 for him that no other could have afforded. Above all it 

 included the supreme delights of shikar, the pursuit of which 

 will take a born hunter anywhere — but only those who have 

 the passion in their blood will understand. 



The early days of our married life were passed in the 

 plains and hill-ranges of Southern India, mostly on the west 



