I was born at No - The MAN & Other Families

28accomplished rider. I also joined the mounted volunteer rifles and in this capacity wasone of the escort to the Viceroy, Lord Dufferin, when he paid a visit to Burma in 1885.When the Burmese War broke out we all of the mounted rifles volunteered for servicewith the expedition but only a limited number got leave from their employers to go. Myfirm wouldn't give me leave, but those of us who remained behind had to patrol thestreets at night and the jungle around the City where "dacoits" (bandits) were very active.When the war broke out it was a very lively time in Rangoon. Troops from India werearriving daily and the gymkhana was crowded every evening with officers in Khaki. TheIrrawaddy Flotilla Co.'s paddle steamers were waiting in the river to take them up toMandalay (See Rudyard Kipling's "Road to Mandalay").The first Christmas I spent in Rangoon we were all invited to dinner at the severalpartners' houses. Unfortunately I was laid low with the first of many attacks of Rangoonfever and spent the day very miserably tossing in bed in a raging fever.The climate of Burma was very trying. The coolest months were December and January,after which it gradually became hotter and hotter until it reached a climax about June.Then every afternoon great black clouds gathered in the west and it looked like rain butthe rain held off and the nights became very oppressive, almost hotter than the days. Thensuddenly (generally in the night) we heard a great roar and the rains broke and camedown literally in torrents. This was hailed by a chorus of frogs and all sorts of flying antsand other insects would appear. The flying ants came in thousands and left their wingsstrewing the floors and furniture. We had to keep our tumblers covered during meals tokeep out the hosts of various kinds of bugs that made their appearance.