Colonel Erskine had to
discharge him soon afterwards, as he found that he had been
exploiting the villagers mercilessly for years, taking bribes
right and left. From much experience Colonel Erskine was an adept
at travelling with what he termed "a light camp." He took with him
a portable office-desk, a bookcase with a small reference library,
and two portable arm-chairs. All these were carried in addition to
our baggage and bedding on coolies' heads, for our sleeping-places
were seldom more than fifteen miles apart.
The Commissioner's old Khansama had very strict ideas as to how a
"Sahib's" dinner should be served. He insisted on decorating the
table with rhododendron flowers, and placing on it every night
four dishes of Moradabad metal work containing respectively six
figs, six French plums, six dates, and six biscuits, all reposing
on the orthodox lace-paper mats, and the moment dinner was over he
carefully replaced these in pickle-jars for use next evening. We
would have broken his heart had we spoiled the symmetry of his
dishes by eating any of these.
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