94 THE DAWK, BUNGALOW ; OH,

myself to the information wMch could be picked up in the
dawk bungalows. Now, the political creed of the fre-
quenters of dawk bungalows is too uniform to afford a
field for the minute observer ; for it consists in the follow-
ing tenets— that the Modified Eesolutions are the curse of
the country; that Sir Mordaunt Wells is the greatest
judge that ever sat on the English bench ; and that when
you hit a nigger he dies on purpose to spite you.
M. — So* you ceased to call yourself Smith ?

C. — Tes, I ceased to call myself Smith, and adopted the
title of Captain Jones, of the 4th Madras Native Infantry,
travelling up-country to do duty with a Sikh regiment at
Peshawur. Thenceforth I lived exclusively in military
society.
M. — Well, did you get on better than before ?

C. — No, bedad, I found that the political creed of the
mess-rooms was even more simple than that of the dawk
bungalows ; for it was confined to one article of faith,
which appeared to include all others — that since the Amal-
gamation the Service had gone to the devil.
M. — So now you're travelling in your own character?

0. — Tes. In my character of member of the English
Legislature I go where I like, am welcome everywhere, and
obtain information from persons of all shades of opiuion.
Ah ! I've heard some facts which never come to the ears
of you civilians. Tou think you know India, but, after all,
you take good care to hear only what suits your book. I
could tell you stories that would make you stare.
