10 WANDERINGS OF A 



sional toil and study may find an occasional leisure hour, 

 which will be best employed in whatever tends to improve 

 the mind and keep the body healthy. Accordingly, by rising 

 early and going soon to bed, I had always a few hours at my 

 disposal for outdoor amusements and recreations ; and when 

 the heat of 4;he day kept me within the shade of my bungalow, 

 I could stiU find occupation and study among the collection 

 of natural objects I had gathered during my morning and 

 evening rambles. 



A physician of great Indian experience says : " Nothing 

 is so destructive of energy of mind and body as habitual in- 

 dolence and inactivity in a tropical climate. Those persons 

 are undoubtedly the most happy who have sufficient oppor- 

 tunities and inducements to keep themselves always employed 

 in useful occupations, and they alone preserve their vigour 

 of body and mind unimpaired during a long residence in 

 India."* 



Such, I will confess, has been my experience, and I appeal 

 to those who have made themselves conversant withthe habits 

 and mode of life of Englishmen in India whether or not the 

 most part of the so-called insalubrity of the climate is not 

 attributable to the neglect of the simplest of hygienic rules ? 



It might be no unprofitable study for the political historian 

 to trace how far the habits and modes of life of Englishmen 

 in India may have influenced their characters as rulers, and 

 whether the great mutiny was in any way the result of our 

 selfish regard for personal comfort, to the neglect of the in- 

 terests and welfare of the people we attempt to govern. 



* Twining on Diseases of Bengal. 



