130 JULY 



ing them. Directly he heard the gin snap, he 

 extricated the creatures, putting them one by one 

 into a cage, and reset the trap ; till in the morning 

 he brought me fifteen dead animals ; such a ghastly 

 sight. There are field rats, bandicoots, and musk 

 rats, but I believe none of the species called plague 

 rat; for which I am thankful. The others are 

 fewer in number than they were, owing to constant 

 supervision in corners by the kitchen, compulsory 

 sweeping away of rubbish, and the observance of 

 strict cleanliness, combined with phenyl. These 

 servants like to live like rats themselves, and it is a 

 battle of one against twenty-five. I think perhaps 

 the absence of snakes this year may be partly owing 

 to the garden, also, being kept well swept, and the 

 jungle cut, and rubbish corners of bricks turned 

 out. Also the constant digging about that it gets, 

 with the numerous alterations, is all distracting to 

 them. 



A most magnificent palm, a special pride of 

 the Burra Sahib, the Arenga Saccharifera, growing 

 close to the house, has now reached the height of 

 35 feet or so, from 20 inches five years ago. Its 

 lower frond touched my window, and last rains a 



