X. 
Although his earliest experience with the rifle was with Antelope 
as described in the iirst chapter of these Records, his great ambition 
was to try his hand and eye on bigj^er game, and this he was able 
to do in after years to his heart's content. His well-known Hut near 
Pykara on the Nrelgherries was the rendezvous of many, famous 
in Indian sporting annals. His first wish was to shew the best 
sport to all who visited htm and his entire abnegation of self was 
ever conspicuous and thoroughly appreciated. 
In 1S46 he went with his regimcjit to Singapore, and was 
lucky enough to obtain three months' leave to visit the Island of 
Java, as he describes it, the most beautiful island in the world. 
He had every hope of obtaining .some grand sport, but unfortunately 
in this though fortunately in every other respect, the Governor of 
Singapore ^ave him a special letter of introduction to the Governor 
General at Batavia ; the consequence of this was that from the 
excessive care they took of him and the dread that any mishap 
should befall him when out shooting, his great desire of being 
able to bag a rhinocerous or a Javanese tiger was entirely frus- 
trated, as the shikar ies had strict orders never to allow him to get 
anywiiere near either of these beasts. In every other respect his 
wishes were at once acceded to. He was received with all honours 
and he was enabled by the means placed at his disposal by the 
Governor General to visit the greater part of the island, and his 
descriptions of the temples and excursions to the great volcanoes 
are full of interest. On his return to Singapore he was sent with his 
company to Labuan to replace the Marines decimated b}^ fever, and 
in that Island he remained for some months. 
In 1849 he visited England on furlough and returned to India 
in 1853. He took great interest hi the conservation of tlie Forests 
in Southern India, and often visited his old friend Michael (now 
General Michael, CS.L) who was organizing an Experimental Con- 
servancy Establishment on the Annamullay Hills, and he was 
appointed to act as his " locum tenens " when Michael was invalided 
to England in 1854. He took so kindly to these new duties that in 
1857 when Michael was again invalided and had to relinquish the 
