Page:Imperial India — An Artist's Journals.djvu/24

6 some of the tales which appear in these journals, and which may be thought to be in bad taste, and an evil return for kindness shown; but I plead guilty only to telling the truth, which I fear has been too often suppressed.

The reader will find many sketches mentioned in the journals which it has been found impossible to reproduce among the illustrations. The exigencies of the publishers have necessitated a selection, and this selection was somewhat a difficulty to me. I brought back thirty-four sketches of natives—mostly rajahs—and nearly fifty landscape studies. I have been limited to twenty-four woodcuts. I have, however, made a selection of those I think most interesting to the general public.

In the great question of spelling that has agitated, and still agitates, the Anglo-Indian public, I have found it impossible to confine myself to what has received official sanction. I am not singular in my objection to the new spelling. A high official, on being expostulated with for not adopting the new method, said, "You may do as you please, but I cannot bring myself to spell 'tub' with an 'a.' " I could no more force myself to spell Hyderabad Haidarabad, than I could pronounce Calais and Paris in the proper way while speaking English. I have no doubt I am wrong, and have already received a tacit reproof from my good friend the publisher, who has supplied me with a map wherein the names are spelt in the orthodox fashion. To enable those who wish to follow my route to find the places I have mentioned in the map, I have supplied at the side a list of names with the date of my arrival, all spelt correctly.

In conclusion, let me hope I may, from my descriptions, excite some who do not wish merely to kill tigers and bears, to stick pigs and see nautches, to follow in my footsteps. The Nimrods as form the mass of the unofficial travellers of India are no doubt the pioneers of civilization. They scale the rocky mountains, they traverse primaeval jungle, they even penetrate the heart of Africa. Heat and cold do not deter them, and hardships are rather an incentive. Now, I do not wish to run down sport, for a feeling for sport is a part of the being of an