FORESTERS’ LIFE IN BURMA 17 
an Indian geologist, who imparted to me the news 
of the first victories won by the British in South 
Africa, and looked on curiously at my belated 
expressions of patriotic satisfaction. 
From Kathdé I went to Mandalay, and found a 
climate that seemed familiar in its arid heat, but 
amid surroundings that were totally inadequate to 
withstand it. The wooden houses with latticed 
windows failed to exclude the hot winds, therm- 
antidotes were unknown, and when the Burmese 
“punkha ”-puller started off for the nightly theatre 
or music-hall, and took with him all chances of rest- 
ful slumber, there arose a great longing for the 
decrepit old Indian, male or female, who pulled 
spasmodically, yet conscientiously, through the 
weary nights. During the last ten years, many 
customs, first based on stern necessity, have disap- 
peared from European life in Upper Burma; houses 
of brick and stone have replaced those of wood and 
bamboo, electric light and power have lessened the 
heat and improved the ventilation ; in fact, there is 
less dependence on the inhabitants of the country, 
and more on the scientific amenities of the West. 
And these amenities were badly wanted where in 
winter the difference between day and night tem- 
perature might amount to 30° F. and more, and 
where the evening at the club might be passed in a 
furnace of 108° F. 
From Mandalay to Maymyo is but forty miles, but 
they bring with them a reduction in the summer 
temperature of some 19° F. We were fortunate 
enough in being able to rent a house from the 
Recorder of Rangoon, a double-storied wooden 
12 
