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CHAPTER XVIII
1881
BAREILLY
Life at Bareilly, with its quiet routine, must have been a great contrast to the recent exciting experiences in Afghanistan; but Colonel Ball-Acton took up the old work of drill and parades, etc., with all his wonted thoroughness. At the same time he engaged in all the religious work he had been accustomed to carry on, and his diary records his zeal in Sunday-school work, prayer-meetings, Bible-readings, and church services of all kinds, as well as temperance meetings. In this latter work he keenly felt the want of sympathy from his fellow-officers, and the scant help that he received, many believing and saying that soldiers could not do their work without stimulants, and that the fatigues and perils of the recent campaign could never have been borne by men who were total abstainers. This was naturally not the Colonel's opinion, and he was grieved at opposition to teetotalism which he considered one great safeguard against vice and disorderly conduct.
His strict religious views, also, often annoyed those officers who were more lax, and his growing fearlessness in speaking the truth, and his devotion to duty, were looked upon with much disfavour by many. Still, all felt, as one offended officer expressed it, that 'he always meant well,' and his kindness and gentleness won over even his opponents to admire his earnest life of duty. He rarely missed an opportunity of speaking of religion, whether to officers, railway guards, Mussulmen, or servants, and he was in the habit of gathering his native servants together on Sundays for prayer and praise.
In March, 1881, Colonel Ball-Acton received his C.B.
He and some of his brother-officers visited the Terai in April for tiger-shooting.
Nepal Terai,
Bareilly,
22nd April, 1881.
My dearest wife,
Here we are in the jungle — I, Smyth, and Sparke. We left Bareilly on morn of 19th, came 30 miles by dakgari to Philibheet. Thence the Superintendent of Police, Sultan Mohammed, lent us his turn-turn and horses to take us 13 miles to Mahafe along in Keecha road, made for the Prince of Wales when here. There we called on a foresl officer named Ponsonby, who 'is to send us our letters. Then we met our elephants (six), and went on them 10 or 12 miles more. I had never been in a howdah before, and found it rather rough and difficult to stand up in and when moving, and one rocks from side to side with each step. On a pad there is much less motion. Inside the howdah it is much like the seats of an I. cart, only what would be the splash-board rises as high as your face as you sit. In it there are pockets for things of sorts and places for four spears. When one stands up, you look well over this, and the mahout is far below and close under. We have a pass for Nepal, and arrived at Mundal Ghat in the evening. Servants only arriving then, as, though they had camels, they had all the baggage on carts, which go so slowly, and the camels empty beside them.
2Oth.—Received a letter from one Lane, of Civil Service, at Rai Bareilly, from Mela Ghat, higher up, asking if he might join us, as he had no pass. We wrote, Yes. We crossed the river Sardah with some difficulty, the water being about 6 feet deep, and current strong. Our camels would not cross. Then we went to see a Goorkha captain, a forest officer (of Nepal), who told us where to go, and sent a man with us, for hitherto we had no shikari, and knew not where to go. We saw a few para, or hog-deer, and cheetah, and fired a few shots ineffectually.
22nd.—Took a beat before breakfast, saw some elephants in the distance, and sent off a note. It turned out to be Lane, who could not find us last night, and was then going back to his camp, whereas, if he had come to us, we'd have given him breakfast. He wrote that he had wandered about looking for us, without kitchen or supplies, and camped where he was when night came on. He ought to have gone to this captain and forest officer, whose address we gave him, and then he could have pointed out where we were. After breakfast we loaded the three pad-elephants, and had a beat through jungles on our way here (Moulia) ; passed through some very tigerish-looking places, where were remains of a carcase of some kind, which my bearer, Lal Khan, said were of a man, but I do not think so. They say these Terai tigers very seldom take to man-eating.
We saw many para and cheetah, one swamp-deer and one pig, and fired at many, but got nothing. Now we hear of very good places for tigers, and hope to see some, and have got a sort of shikari. We return to Bareilly on 29 April. Denshire, Milton, and Cave were out on a tiger-shooting expedition, and the party got three tigers. It's the first time I've been in the Terai. It is much like Tikeri jungle.
Yours affectionately,
chas. Ball-Acton, 51st L.I.'
An adventure with which the party met, soon after the above letter was written, is thus recorded in his diary:
' By accident we came on a reedy place which tigers love. I was walking, and then got on elephant, Smyth and Sparkes some way off. ... While we were talking, out walked a tigress, so quietly, as if too dignified to hurry. I fired, when she ran, and my elephant ran after. Tigress went straight to where Smyth and Sparkes are. . . . Before you could say " Knife " she was on Sparkes's elephant's head. He fired, and, we believed, hit her in neck. She dropped off, and ran round to elephant's tail, and jumped up there. Sparkes turned round, elephant shook violently, and in a moment I saw Sparkes flying out of his howdah, descending on his back in the grass, and, I supposed, the tigress on him. No, thank God ! there was Sparkes, standing up beside his elephant, and the tigress standing too, behind the elephant and a little on the other side looking straight to its front, about 15 feet from Sparkes, and nothing to hide him. After a moment, I told Sparkes to run away, and he did so, and got into Smyth's howdah, the tigress then moved into the grass. I could have shot her easily standing there, but that would only draw her on Sparkes. Some say he should have lain down, and no doubt this is a good thing to do, but the tigress or the elephants might easily have come on him, and I think it was best to move away. The tigress was then said to be at the foot of a tree; the elephants would not go on, and we fired many shots. At last we got elephants on, and found nothing! We thought she had gone ; I went down as long-stop, and the others commenced to beat. Elephants did not go far. Threw down an old tree, and she came out ... we fired many shots. She started off again, and again same went on, firing shots at where people in trees pointed out. At length we ceased to hear her breathing, and the mahouts said she was dead, which was the case, and they soon pulled her out. ... It was a great chance coming on this tigress, and saved us going back empty. 8 ft. 10 in. long. Voted skin to Sparkes.'
Certainly the skin was well deserved by the one who had had so dangerous and exciting an adventure.
The rest of the year 1881 was spent in the regular performance of regimental duty at Bareilly, varied by occasional shooting expeditions, or short excursions to other places.
In October he writes :
Bareilly,
10th Oct., 1881.
I do not know if I told you of the Outram Institute. It is a Government building, and gets some 6os. or so a month. When we came it was not made much use of, and Rev. C. Saunders having consulted me about getting up an institute at Peshawur, I thought, Here we have a building and a grant from Government all ready to hand. So I suggested to Rev. Jermyn, the hon. sec., and Major Dyke, R.A., to make it as much as we could.
R.A. Canteen gave Rs. 30 and sist Rs. 70, and we got it finished, and ordered games and papers. (That £11 was to pay in advance for papers.) I advanced Rs. 450, and we bought a billiard-table. R.A. advanced about Rs. 200 for carriage, etc., of same. I advanced about Rs. 100 to buy deck-chairs and cooking for a refreshment-room, and we take Rs. 2 a month subscription; and the billiard-table and refreshment-room promise to pay, so I hope it will be a success. Rev. E. Jermyn is making shields with arms of Outram, Havelock, Clyde, and all past and present Generals, Chaplains, and C.O.'s of this station to decorate the walls. Do you care to hear all about this ? At the Institute the R.A. have their quadrille-parties by permission, and same to have liquor, which is not allowed at other times. Besides the Institute, the R. C. Padre, Fr. Doogan, a very good man, has the Catholic Library, a good-sized building, with a small stage at one end and a good lot of books. He gave tea to all the children, and a lot of men lately. Then there are Rev. and Mrs. Thomas (American Episcopal Methodist Mission) who have a large room in their house at the service of soldiers any time they like to go, and there Mrs. T. has very successful meetings. Every Tuesday sometimes 40 men 51st and R.A. We have our reading and recreation and refreshment and billiard rooms also, and a very good place (2 married quarters) for the T.A. room.'
CHAPTER XIX
BAREILLY—ENGLAND
No account of Colonel Ball-Acton would be complete without references to his constant introspection and inquiry into his own motives and feelings. Without intruding too much on his private thoughts, an extract may be given from his diary of December 18th, 1881, which will illustrate his habits of self-examination.
'My 52nd year. I do wish to make a perfect consecration of myself to God, but I feel I do not. How is this? I cannot say that I make much progress. Now, I thank God, that I do not willingly those things that I know to be sin, except it be neglects. But I am exceedingly fond, of shooting, pig-sticking, hunting, and tennis. I am ready to give up days, weeks, and even months to their enjoyment. Is this well? — I have no doubt of it being lawful — is it expedient ? Could not my time be better employed, by doing my work more thoroughly as to God; by doing many things more
to help on God's cause among our men? If my h^art is set upon these things, is there not less of it left for God ? Would it not be profitable to give more of my time to reading God's word, and to prayer ? I am inclined to answer all this against my present practice. I have always put on the other side that these are good for my health : true—but I can have a day once a week or fortnight for that, and God will take care of me. As much as I have set my heart on having some tiger-shooting, so much will it be a worthy sacrifice. I have purposed, (and that I fear without asking God's will), to go out snipe shooting 22nd to 24th, ^nd 27th to 3ist; to take a month in the Terai; to go out with hounds twice a week; to go out pig-sticking as often as possible. I would now submit all these to God, and would ask His guidance and will, and strength and courage from Him to give up all and any if He tells me to.'
Conscientiousness, such as is shown in this extract, governed all the Colonel's life; and it is not surprising that he was recognised by all about him as a thoroughly good man.
The beginning of 1882 found him still at Bareilly, but with the prospect of a speedy visit to England.
' bareilly,
'2nd January, '82.
' my dearest wife,
'There! I am to go home this year. . . . On Friday Father Doogan (a very good man) gave
all the women and children, ours and R.A.'s, a tea on Friday and a lot of toys. On Saturday Mrs. Thomas, American Mission, gave all teetotal juveniles a tea and tree, and many presents and muslin stockings filled with sweets. The General went to Father Doogan's, and was very pleased. Father D. has a library and theatre, bagatelle and games, papers, etc., refreshments and T.A. Society; calls it the Catholic Library ; does a great deal for the men, who like him very much. He reroofed his library a few months back, and made improvements Rs. 1,000. I asked him how he raised it (he asked me for nothing). He said, " I give Rs. 100 a month of my pay (he gets but Rs. 235) to an orphanage, and the Bishop allowed me to take two months of that." Poor man! he half starves himself, so I thought I should help him who does so much for the men, and I gave him Rs. 100. Mrs. Murray (General's wife) said she would give the children a tea, so they will get rather too much feasting.' [ This was the last time he contributed towards the Roman Catholic religion being helped on.]
Another letter fully relates the Colonel's plans and intentions.
4 bareilly, ' 2nd Jan., 1882.
'my dearest wife,
'To-day I have written my report of poor Cave to his mother. He has made some progress
mentally, and bodily is very well. He always knows me, but cannot tell my name. When talking to me, he told me I was going home, which we considered a great display of intelligence. He is put on solid food now, and wants to get up and go about. He will probably go home in March. Well, my turn is coming very near. I must tell you my plans. I was very keen to have a go at the tigers before leaving, and in September bespoke commissariat elephants. However, the time for shooting is April and May, and that would have kept my dear wife waiting too long, and the good folks " would stare." So on Saturday, i4th inst., I gave up my expedition. By evening post there came a letter from Colonel Money, Resident or Agent with the Maharajah of Durbhanga, with the latter's wish that I should join his shooting-party in the Cosi jungles, said to be the best in India, to assemble at D. on ist March, and, if possible, bring young Money, his son. Could I refuse such a tempting offer? The jungles are better than here, and the thing will be done well, whereas my own party would be somewhat of a struggle. So I accepted. Can you forgive me ? Young Money came out about four months ago, and his father asked if he could go and see him before joining, and I said certainly, and he got a month's leave. Since coming here his horse fell over and dislocated his arm, so that between leave and dislocations and tiger-shooting he hasn't learnt very much yet. Lords Durham, Ilchester, and Lawrence are to be of the party. It is very good of Colonel M. thinking of me. Well, I suppose the shikar will last a month, and I may be back (D.V.) here by 1st April.'
*****
The 'Cave' mentioned in this letter was a young officer who, in December, 1881, had met with a severe accident, resulting in concussion of the brain.
In March the Colonel started on the shooting expedition.
'DARBHANGAH,
9th March, 1882.
* * * ¥ *
'We left Bareilly at 11.46 p.m. on Monday, 6th; arrived here at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 8th. Two nights and two days in the train ; very tiring. First day breakfasted at Cawnpore, dined (badly) at Allahabad. There I called on Station - master Parkinson, late (left in '61) colour-sergeant 51st. He suffers from rheumatism, and was on sick-list, as when I last saw him. He has been to Australia lately, where he left his family. By the bye, the papers are discussing the social question 12: What are wives and mothers to do ? Stay in India with worse halves or in England with children ? Some say one, some the other; but I do not think one says, father give up his work, and retire, which is, if I mistake not, your solution.'
The shooting-party was much enjoyed, though the Colonel was occasionally disturbed by con scientious scruples as to his too great absorption in the sport. No tigers were killed, and in recording this in his diary, he attributed it to God, who was thus disappointing him for his good.
' bareilly,
'21. 3-'82.
' my dearest wife,
'Back again. C.C. came here 4.12 p.m. on Sunday. We all met him at the station. He and Staff dined with us. I had a very pleasant chat with him; he said he liked Gregson — would be a T.A. only for the doctor, takes one or two whisky-pegs a day. Next day parade at 5.50 a.m.; marched past; then off to have a fight, which I believe pleased him. At 5 p.m. a levee, to which we all went; I had to introduce all ours. He shook hands with me, and merely bowed to the others and never said a word, which I thought a pity, as he might have shaken hands and said something. Went off at 10 a.m. dak gharrie for Naini Tal, and for this I and Money were dragged back from our dear tigers. Alas! we were out four days, and saw no tigers. On Sunday some of the party went out and got a tigress, and we had but little general shooting. Last year they killed five tigers in the grass, beaten by us on first two days. We were a week late, and grass was partly burnt, which disturbed the tigers and sent them to unaccustomed places. I believe the disappointment was good for me. I hope to be off in a week, but have not yet fixed the day or ship. I hope to arrive
via Calais, and you can judge what time I'll get to T.W. To-day I gave out our Afghan medals, and made the regiment a complimentary speech. About 600 medals this time. I wanted the C.C. to give them, but he had not time. Same with General Murray.'
Preparations for his departure for England now fully occupied him, and on March 31st he left Bareilly. His journey to England was uneventful, but was pleasantly broken by visits to Venice, Milan, Lucerne, etc. On his arrival in England he went at once to Tunbridge Wells, where he had a happy meeting with his wife and children.
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