Sport and Military Life in India. By the late Lieutenant-Colonel
T. G. Fraser. With an Introduction by Colonel G. 13. Malleson, C.B.I. (W. H. Allen and Co.)—Lieutenant-Colonel Fraser died about three years ago. He had retired from the Service—the Indian Army— more than twenty years before. It will be seen, therefore, that his experiences relate to a bygone state of things—to the days of the East India Company—" a time," as he puts it, "when electric wires and railways had not been adopted, and our Empire in the East still retained its Oriental character, and its rulers felt an interest in the country and its people." This last is, we hope, still true, though, of course, India, now brought so near to this country, is less of a home to the governing class than it was in the old days. The volume con- sists, as will be seen from the title, of two parts,—of sporting and of military experiences. The first may be read with unmixed pleasure. The writer was a gallant and enterprising sportsman, who records his experiences in a very simple and unaffected manner, and he has stirring stories to tell. As to political and military matters, it is necessary to remember that Colonel Fraser was a disappointed man, badly treated, as he thought, and very probably was, by the Company.
Here his opinions mast be taken with a reserve. That they were thoroughly sincere convictions, need hardly ba said. "One of the 'straightest' men with whom it was ever my good-fortune to come in contact," is Colonel Malleson's emphatic description of him. Among Colonel Fraser's experiences is a strange story of the burial of a fakir. The man was built in with masonry hermetically sealed. This was his own desire. His one fear was of the ants. His tongue had been drawn back to the gullet, and his body wrapped in a light, warm cloth. The tomb was then sealed with Ruojit Singh's own signet. At the end of six weeks the masonry was opened. The body was found somewhat emaciated. On the tongue being replaced in its position and a cup of warm milk administered, the man revived.
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