| Description | He does not believe that her picture from the terrace steps is authentic. He writes about the last interesting thing to happen, a picnic taken at Dharanee Paker, a hill due west, which commands a view of Bengal. Servants and tents were sent on overnight to the village of Mohampoor. William lists the party, and the uneventful ride to the hill through jungle, ending at a ravine, where steps were found enabling Lieutenant Reay of the 63rd Regiment to take his pony down and then up the other bank. Stewart was unseated and narrowly avoided a broken leg trying the same. William led his horse up the path and was almost dragged back, while Spencer lost his horse, having tried to ride throught the precipitous jungle tunnel. [Arthur] Pigou made the journey with assitance. They arrived at Mohampoor for dinner and set out again early the next morning for the top of the hill, despite Reay's laziness. Spencer and William had seen the Rajah of Moheshpore some days before, asking him to send men to clear a path to the top of the hill. Not much had been done, so they employed a party of Santhals with axes to get through the thick wood. Reay dismounted at the crest and refused to go further, eventually helped by being carried on men's shoulders. William describes the view, which brought to mind a line from Schiller's 'Spaziergang'. Spencer and Reay, who would not climb the tree at the top, attempted to cut down jungle to give a better view. William climbed down and asked the head Santhal to build a sort of ladder to the top of the tree. He describes tiffin, with Bass beer and an enormous feast, the remainder given over to the Santhals. The party then climbed the ladder, and a stage had been constructed at the top, where they contined carrousing, and William dropped his prismatic compass. This was lent to him by Macleod and he must now replace it. A few days before he lost the telescope given to him by Mr Dawes: Pigou declared that he had returned it to William, who must have lost it while riding, but he has no recollection of putting it in its case. It was a favourite of William's and his constant companion. The 'little beauty' given to him by Gordon and Carry never reached India, having been stolen in Egypt. He has just received mail, and says that Johnny [John Herschel] may have William's photographic apparatus if he can take a good photograph before leaving Chatham. He will be glad to hear of Miss Waterfield's visit and welcomes good news of Alick [Alexander Stewart Herschel]. |