European does not degenerate-even slowly-to the level of the Hindoo. South Africa might learn much from this, and especially remember that it is a shorter stage from the Englishman to the Hindoo than to the Kaffir.
Well, in our little tin-pot way we made ourselves comfortable in Mhow. I went in for Hindostani, and passed my lower standard. They say there, "It's a long way to Delhi;" and in soldier's parlance it may be translated as "It's a long job to get a frock coat." I regret to say I fancied I never should get my commission, which may have been so; in any case I let my father purchase my discharge. Then I went home again by P. and O. boat viâ Aden, Suez, Port Said, and Malta. This was a delightful trip; very jolly passengers all the way. Aden was interesting, in that rain was falling, a phenomenon which I hear happens but once in seven years. The Red Sea, of course, was hot, but I enjoyed myself very much, leading a dolce far niente life, and taking charge of a jolly little girl coming home for her first visit to England. She wanted to know all about London and Brighton, and gave me endless ayahs' Hindostani legends and proverbs to try and remember. At Suez, unfortunately, I became separated from our "boys"—a salt commissioner, an artillery lieutenant, a Rugby boy—ex-sergeant 9th Lancers—and two or three old stagers who knew all about the trip. In the inevitable row with the donkey drivers I unfortunately struck one of them, and I think called him a bad name; and I regret to say I had the most unmerciful hammering from about twenty of them, with their sticks, that I ever experienced. This was humiliating, especially as, do my worst, I only could hurt about one-fifteenth of them after all. My revenge, however, has come at length, since the old 17th has shewn the Arab a move or two in the person of Sir Drury C. Drury-Lowe (our old colonel). Port Said, Malta, and Gibraltar, of course we called at, but there is no good saying anything about one's slight acquaintance with these often-described places. At Gibraltar we lay beside the Czar's yacht Livadia; thence homewards to Southampton, London, Bromley. Things in general being bad in the City, and my love for that place not having grown any warmer, I decided on trying the Colonies—as a civilian this time. However, I stopped a month
