FORESTERS’ LIFE IN THE ANDAMANS 209 
few minutes on one of the greatest Christian 
festivals, though there were doubtless reminiscences 
that created longings for freedom to visit once more 
the land of his fathers. We parted friends, and he 
testified his gratitude by a present of fowls and eggs 
the following morning. My wife took upon herself 
to plead the convict’s cause with the Chief Com- 
missioner when bidding adieu on the deck of the 
steamer that was to take us to Burma, for there 
was good opportunity in the clemency about to be 
accorded to thousands of prisoners throughout India 
at the approaching Coronation. But her efforts were 
in vain; there were, doubtless, official reasons why 
the prayer should not be granted, and so it was that 
she left the Andamans in tears. Our guest, we 
heard, died shortly after, and we could imagine that 
hope deferred had sickened his heart to death, and 
that he was glad of the release. 
14 
