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CHAPTER XXIII
1885
HOME TO ENGLAND
Jungle near Chandin,
26 March, '85.
My dearest wife,
Here I am, started from 51st, where I've been so many years. My last day in the regiment was Thursday 19th, and on 20th I came on half-pay — 10 s. a day, in addition to which they gave me while in India 7s. 8d. a day —a come-down from Rs. 1,600 a month. On Saturday I dined with the regiment, and Colonel F. made a very nice speech in proposing my health, and I did not do very well in reply. On Sunday went with others to station, as the C.C. was said to be passing through; I wanted to see Sir Thos. D. Baker, A.G. It was a mistake of the railway people, and no one came. Monday 23rd, left without a very great struggle. Johnson drove me to station, and nearly everyone came to see me off, and cheered as the train went off. The C.C. in the train said he wanted to see me, so I went, and said, "How do-do ?" No more. He was busy all day, so I saw him no more. Went into Baker's and Sir Chas. Macgregor's O.M.G. carriage and had long talks with them. Passed Chunar, where I thought of stopping; saw Sparkes and Sanders there. They are on detachment at the fort, where there are political prisoners. Arrived Allahabad at 6.30. Sir Herbert Macpherson was, of course, there to meet the C.C. He asked me to stay, so I went. The M.'s live with Daniel!, a civilian with one daughter. Sir H. and Lady M. were dining at Government House, where the C.C. was. I had a double-pole tent for my room. Met General and Miss Renneys.
'z^th. — Walked back to breakfast. Hurried through that, as Sir H. had to go and see the Chief. He asked me if we ever went in blue patrol coat and white trousers; then he asked his acting A.A.G., Jeffreys, and he, of course, said, "No"; then he put on one of his own khaki (natural colour grown by him from seed from Nankin), and said, "Will this do ?" No. It appeared that his dhobi and bearer had not a white coat ready. However, long after his time appointed he started, but not very long after came back ; his trousers had split. He does not go in for dress—" millinery," he calls it—but no doubt he is a first-rate man. In Egypt he thought his Indian contingent rather put aside and not allowed to hurry on to Cairo, where, no doubt, they would have got first. He complained to Wolseley, who said, " You are a tower of strength," says he. " What could I say after that ?" The M. are very nice— men very kind. They are of the Cluny ilk. Here I am, plunging for the last time, alas! into this dear jungle. You will see Asseerghen on your maps. I purpose working down the Tapti, and training again at Burhanpore, just north of Bhu-saurel Junction, where we stayed a day; lovely jungles. It is a little early, as the water is still too plenty. Lots of tigers, panthers, and bison, and sambhur, cheetah, etc. Sammy and bearer are with me. Arrived here at 2 a.m. to-day, then slept on a bench in verandah. The whole station about as big as our dining and drawing-rooms. Hence, when I get coolies, etc., I go east into the dear jungle. It is nice and warm now, but the nights are lovely. I received yours on 18th, after writing and posting my No. xl.
The numbers won't rise much higher! I have got a passage in Crocodile, leaving Bombay 10th April. It is very tantalizing leaving now, when our hosts are mustering to meet the Russians here in India and the Mahdi in Egypt, and I am going from this, and passing in sight almost of Suakim. However, God knows what is best. May He give us grace to offer to Him for His disposal ourselves, our children, and all that is ours! Then shall we be happy; not else.'
The Colonel much enjoyed the shooting which he obtained on his way to Bombay, but he saw no tigers, though his shikari assured him, at one part of the 'dear jungle,' that tigers frequently came there. He reached Bombay on April 8th, and found a telegram which stopped, for a time, his starting for England
c/o King, King and Co.,
Bombay,
10th April, '85.
My dearest wife,
Is it good or is it bad? Yes, it must be good, as all things work together for good to them, etc. On my arrival here from the jungle yesterday I got a telegram:
To col. B. A., S.Z.K.
c/o G.O.C.,
Bombay.
From Sir Thos. Baker,, Adjutant-General.
There is probability of your being given a command. Await orders at Bombay, and telegraph me address at Rawil Pindi.
So I wired address : " K. K. and Co., Bombay," and have heard no further. I showed the telegram to Brigadier-General Edwards long here, and he said wait; so the Crocodile is leaving to-day, and I stay. What do you think of it ? I am so disappointed not to get home and be with you again, as, of course, all these twenty-two months I have been looking to my service being done and being surely (D.V.) with you. This morning we have news of
the Russian attack on Panjdeh — a most cruel, unprovoked slaughter of the poor Afghans. It will hurry on preparations, I presume. Unless the Russians say " Peccavi," and give up Panjdeh (five villages), it will be war at once. If so, I much doubt there being much fighting out here. It is the Black Sea Russia will be brought to terms on, through Persia.'
Colonel Ball-Acton remained for some time at Bombay making shooting excursions in the neighbouring jungle, but without much success.
'c/o King and Co.,
Bombay,
6th May, '85.
My dearest wife,
Here I am still in the jungle, which I'm somewhat tired of, as I get nothing, a pea-hen and a jungle-dog being all I've got. I see tiger-marks daily, but unless one gets a kill you can't tell where they may be. They travel, they say, sometimes 40 miles in a night if they don't get prey. If they do, they sleep hard by, and can always be got out. It is a great struggle to write ; no friendly tree to shade one. At present very few of the trees have any leaves. My tent very hot, and dreadful dust in it. So now I am sitting outside in shadow of the tent, and it is less dusty; but the ink clogs and dries up on the pen in a horrid way. However, I must write, as to-morrow the mail passes.
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'I dare say you have cold winds. I am sitting in what now seems like a blast of a furnace. At night, however, it is pleasant, and always towards morning I pull up a blanket.
'I haven't seen any papers now since 1st May, so I don't know if war is declared or not. I can't see how it is to be avoided unless we give in everything, which will be, I believe, a mistake, as was our peace after Majuba Hill, costing much more in blood and treasure later on.'
The delay at Bombay appears to have been fruitless of result, and at last the Colonel started for
home.
Jungle,
Central Provinces,
10th May, '85.
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Your good, kind, loving letter received on the 21st — very quick — and here I am, going home at once, and have directed Kolo to take a passage in Rubattino's China, 5,000 tons, 850 h.p., sailing on the 1st of June for Marseilles. Failing that Austria-Hungary-Lloyd's, 2nd June for Trieste. As soon as secured I will write and arrange to hear from you. Where shall we meet? Newhaven seems a good place. I would not have you cross the sea. After receipt of yours could not catch mail, so wired to K. K. to write to you. Late for mail coming. I hope they did so all right. This goes for Bombay on 26th, Tuesday being first start. Early for monsoon; Friday the usual day. By P. and O. of 2nd. I'll let you know where to write. Same time I got yours one came from Baker, saying little chance now; better go home. But, anyhow, I must have acceded to your petition, and I believe you are right.'
On his way home he stayed some days at Cairo and visited the Pyramids. He ascended the great Pyramid, but objected to being dragged up in the usual way by Arabs, so managed to work himself from ledge to ledge. When he and his party descended, they went into the Pyramid, but the Colonel says:
' I would not care to crawl in again, but am glad to have done so, and been to the top .... without making the ascent one would not half recognise the enormous work.'
The journey through Southern Europe was interesting, but not remarkable, and on July 6th, the Colonel arrived at Tunbridge Wells, and once more met his wife and children.
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 "The troopship Crocodile")