168 ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA 



with bamboo pegs instead of glue and nails ; the one would 

 dissolve and the others rust. The carpenters and joiners 

 in this part of India — at Palghat especially — are famous 

 for their neat and beautiful work, and are in great request 

 elsewhere. On the coast bamboo pegs are also used in lieu 

 of nails in the making of small vessels and boats. 



The rest of the year is as destructively dry. During the 

 hot weather a land wind blows at fixed hours in the day ; 

 an altogether detestable wind, to which all who can do so 

 avoid exposing themselves. Book-covers and paper-knives 

 jnay be seen to curl up if it play on them, and curl back 

 again into place if turned round, apparently none the 

 worse. The effect on animals is equally marked ; bullocks, 

 horses, cows, etc., tethered to graze outside, if exposed to 

 it are liable to get what is called ' a stroke of the land wind/ 

 It completely and sometimes permanently paralyses the 

 hind quarters or spine. The animals themselves have the 

 sense to keep out of it, given the chance. 



One of our dogs met with this crippling accident, never 

 quite recovering, though she did not suffer beyond the 

 liability to fall over if pushed in any way by the others. It 

 taught her to keep near human beings who would help her 

 up if she did so fall. Ever after her mishap this dog, 

 Dinah, took her stand beside the dog-boy, for him to support 

 her while she fed. This boy was a born trainer and lover 

 of animals ; he had, of his own accord, instituted the habit 

 of washing the faces of those dogs who liked to be in and out 

 of the house ; they learned to come at his call to be made 

 nice. His patience had no limits, and the endless tricks 

 he taught his charges were only by means of repetition and 

 rewards. He never left an ailing dog night or day — ate 

 and slept with them if allowed to do so. 



People who make friends of their animals in sickness and 

 in health must most of them have spent nights in the stable ; 

 my husband and I have done so many a time ; but that kind 



