Page:Indira and Other Stories.pdf/163

 are 'robbers'. But the word 'robber' must not be used indiscriminately. Sometimes the word 'hero' must be substituted. It is only the punishable forms of exaction that are called 'robbery'. All other varieties of this pursuit are called 'heroism'. I must beg you, when mixing in polished society, to bear these distinctions in mind. Otherwise you will run the risk of being considered uncivilised. For my own part, I have come to the private conclusion that these are unnecessary refinements and that all these categories might very well be included under the one word 'gastrophily'.

Be that as it may, I continue my narration, and repeat that men are extremely devoted to tigers. As I have said before, I one day wandered among the habitations of men on business. You have no doubt heard that some years ago there was established in the Sunderbans a Port Canning Company."