outrages—The Bhutan War of 1864-5—The Duars—The
annual subsidy—Bhutan to-day—Religion—An |
impoverished land—Bridges—Soldiers in Bhutan—The |
feudal system—Administration of justice—Tyranny of |
officials—The Bhuttias—Ugly women—Our neighbours |
in Buxa—A Bhuttia festival—Archery—A banquet—A |
dance—A Scotch half-caste—Chunabatti—Nature of the |
borderland—Disappearing rivers—The Terai—Tea gardens—A |
planter's life—The club—Wild beasts in the |
path—The Indian planters—Misplaced sympathy—The |
tea industry—Profits and losses—Planters' salaries—Their |
daily life—Bhuttia raids on tea gardens—Fearless |
planters—An unequal fight |
45 |
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CHAPTER IV |
A DURBAR IN BUXA |
|
Notice of the Political Officer's approaching visit—A |
Durbar—The Bhutan Agent and the interpreter—Arrival |
of the Deb Zimpun—An official call—Exchange of |
presents—Bhutanese fruit—A return call—Native liquor—A |
welcome gift—The Bhutanese musicians—Entertaining |
the Envoy—A thirsty Lama—A rifle match—An |
awkward official request—My refusal—The Deb Zimpun |
removes to Chunabatti—Arrival of the treasure—The |
Political Officer comes—His retinue—The Durbar—The |
Guard of Honour—The visitors—The Envoy |
comes in state—Bhutanese courtesies—The spectators—The |
payment of the subsidy—Lunch in Mess—Entertaining |
a difficult guest—The official dinner—An |
archery match—Sikh quoits—Field firing—Bhutanese |
impressed—Blackmail—British subjects captured—Their |
release—Tashi's case—Justice in Bhutan—Tyranny |
of officials—Tashi refuses to quit Buxa—The |
next payment of the subsidy—The treaty—Misguided |
humanitarians |
64 |
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CHAPTER V |
IN THE JUNGLE |
|
An Indian jungle—The trees—Creepers—Orchids—The |
undergrowth—On an elephant in the jungle—Forcing |
a passage—Wild bees—Red ants—A lost river—A |
sambhur hind—Spiders—Jungle fowl—A |
stag—Hallal—Wounded beasts—A halt—Skinning the |
stag—Ticks—Butcher apprentices—Natural rope—Water in |
the air—Pani bel—Trail of wild elephants—Their |
habits—An impudent monkey—An adventure with a rogue |
elephant—Fire lines—Wild dogs—A giant squirrel—The |
barking deer—A good bag—Spotted deer—Protective |
colouring—Dangerous beasts—Natives' dread of bears—A |
bison calf—The fascination of the forest—The |
generous jungle—Wild vegetables—Natural products—A |
home in the trees—Forest Lodge the First—Destroyed |
by a wild elephant—Its successor—A luncheon-party |
in the air—The salt lick—Discovery of a coal mine—A |
monkey's parliament—The jungle by night |
83 |
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CHAPTER VI |
ROGUES OF THE FOREST |
|
The lord of the forest—Wild elephants in India—Kheddah |
operations in the Terai—How rogues are made—Rogues |
attack villages—Highway robbers—Assault on |
a railway station—A police convoy—A poacher's death—Chasing |
an officer—My first encounter with a rogue—Stopping |
a charge—Difficulty of killing an elephant—The |
law on rogue shooting—A Government gazette—A |
tame elephant shot by the Maharajah of Cooch |
Behar—Executing an elephant—A chance shot—A |
planter's escape—Attack on a tame elephant—The |
mahout's peril—Jhansi's wounds—Changes among the |
officers in Buxa—A Gurkha's terrible death—The |
beginner's luck—Indian and Malayan sambhur—A shot |
out of season—A fruitless search—Jhansi's flight—A |
scout attacked by a bear—Advertising for a truant—The |
agony column—Runaway elephants—A fatal fraud—Jhansi's |
return |
104 |
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CHAPTER VII |
A FIGHT WITH AN ELEPHANT |
|
We sight a rogue—A sudden onslaught—A wild elephant's |
attack—Shooting under difficulties—Stopping a rush—Repeated |
attacks—An invulnerable foe—Darkness stops |
the pursuit—A council of war—Picking up the trail—A |
muckna—A female elephant—Photographing a lady—A |
good sitter—A stampede—A gallant Rajput—Attacking |
on foot—A hazardous feat—A narrow escape—Final |
charge—A bivouac in the forest—Dangers of the night—A |
long chase—Planter hospitality—Another stampede—A |
career of crime—Eternal hope—A king-cobra—Abandoning |
the pursuit—An unrepentant villain—In |
the moment of danger |
|