He became one of the leading players at knuckle-
bones, which all jhampanis and many saises play while they are
waiting outside the Government House or the Gaiety Theatre of
nights; he learned to smoke tobacco that was three-fourths cowdung;
and he heard the wisdom of the grizzled Jemadar of the Government
House saises, whose words are valuable. He saw many things which
amused him; and he states, on honor, that no man can appreciate
Simla properly, till he has seen it from the sais's point of view.
He also says that, if he chose to write all he saw, his head would
be broken in several places.
Strickland's account of the agony he endured on wet nights, hearing
the music and seeing the lights in "Benmore," with his toes
tingling for a waltz and his head in a horse-blanket, is rather
amusing. One of these days, Strickland is going to write a little
book on his experiences. That book will be worth buying; and even
more, worth suppressing.
Thus, he served faithfully as Jacob served for Rachel; and his
leave was nearly at an end when the explosion came.
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