56 
INDIA 
were fine, tall, mostly handsome and comparatively fair, but the 
swarthy little Gurkas interested me most. In striking contrast with 
the Hindus they are a merry race. Very like Japanese, but darker, 
a trifle bigger and a trifle better looking. Undeniably very, very 
smart. I was introduced to some of the native officers, to whom a 
few complimentary phrases were interpreted. All wanted to be 
photographed. The dread kukri, the special weapon of the Nipalese, 
was exhibited and to the great gratification of the owner handed 
round to the ladies. “ Battalion!—’ten-shun ! ” They fall in and 
march off, played out by the very creditable band of the Sikh 
regiment which forms the garrison of Malakand. Each company 
came to attention with remarkable smartness as they passed the 
group of officers standing near us. 
Lahore, lat. 31° 35' N., alt. circa 700 ft. 
October 31st—November 4th. 
At the capital of the Panjab which, though a city of the plains, 
was perhaps as picturesque as any of the Indian cities visited by us, 
my chief collecting ground was the extensive Lawrence Garden. 
This though full of flowers is so wild in parts, that, not to mention 
a Mongoose, I even came across a Jackal at midday; it skulked 
guiltily away like a whipped hound. On days when the band plays 
it is a great sight to see the police in their handsome uniforms 
mounted upon camels high above the crowd. Unfortunately, how¬ 
ever, we missed the great sight of the place, the wife of the Lat 
Sahib 1 driving camels tandem! 
The class of Butterflies found at Lahore differed widely from 
those met with at Simla and further north, the predominant forms 
being Oriental. Here I first captured Papilio demoleus, Linn, 
(i erithonius , Cram.), the “ tailless swallow-tail/’ which I had perhaps 
seen at Peshawar; this butterfly has a wide range in India and 
might almost be termed abundant, frequenting especially the flowers 
of Zinnia, Lantana, and Bougainvillea . When feeding it settles for 
a few moments only, fluttering with its wings the while; then it is 
not hard to catch, but when rushing from place to place it is quite 
otherwise. In colouring it is very like P. machaon, but far less 
handsome; the yellow ground-colour is often quite pale and bright 
when the insect is fresh, but it usually turns much darker and 
duller; cyanide very possibly hastens this process. It was at 
1 Literally Lord Master ; the title by which the natives designate the Lieutenant 
Governor. 
