15 MAY 1982, Page 18

Colonel Corbett

Sir: Euan Cameron, in his 'Argentinian childhood' (1 May), remarks that his teachers directed his literary thoughts to Kipling, P.C. Wren and Jim Fawcett — of man-eating leopard and tiger fame. Nearly but not quite right. He is thinking of the great Colonel Jim Corbett of Naini Tal, In- dia, the author of Man-Eaters of Kumaon: Being a modest old colonial the shikart (hunter) doesn't tell his readers too much about his private life and thoughts about Empire and eventual Independence. He died in 1955 and so there must be people around who met and knew him; I would be glad to hear from them, as I am trying to piece together his life for a possible book.

Neil Mackwood

16 Hazlitt Road, London W14