Reminiscences of Sport in India

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVI. To Waltair.--Cannauore and its Climate.--Disagreeable effect of the Monsoon.--Snipe-shooting and Fishing.--Moplahs.-- Fanatical Warriors.--To Bellary.--British Burmah.--The Andaman Islands.--Darjeeling and the .Himalayas.--End of Service in India. THE commencement of 1878 found me still at Nagpore, waiting for employment, which came in March. My first post was command of the Northern District, of which the head-quarters were at Waltair, on the east coast of the peninsula. I went by rail to Calcutta. At Calcutta I visited the Zoological Gardens, and was shocked at the wretched condition of the poor animals. The "Great Carnivora" were in a state of semi-starvation, mere frames of skin and bone. It was a shocking sight, discreditable alike to the committee who professed to manage the gardens and to the people of Calcutta, who did not make the committee do their duty and prevent the native subordinates, who were supposed to feed the animals, from peculating in so disgraceful a manner. I remained two months only at Waltair, for the Northern District was abolished in the interests of economy, and I was moved to the command of Malabar and Canara, on the western coast. Cannanore is the head-quarter station of this command, and here we remained until September 1880. The climate of this coast is not pleasant. An annual fall of 100 to 130 inches of rain is too much of a good thing, and the consequent steaminess of the atmosphere for more than half the year is excessively disagreeable. Everything at Cannanore partakes of mould and mildew; it is impossible to preserve books and pictures. In all houses there is a drying-room, in which are charcoal fires; and all articles liable to injury from damp are ranged on wooden frames, and on great...