Author is a novelist, also accomplished at sketching. I'm marveling at her consistent detailed descriptions of landscapes and people, but it makes sense - must be part of how a person can be a good writer/artist. Loves riding horses; she and husband see a lot in this way. Napier name - long history in England and India. Also her husband's family (Lawrence).
Book was published in 1949, but events took place between 1914 and 1919.
I found it fascinating throughout.
Though thinking about how useful this type of book can be - written from perspective of colonial authorities - still, I think it is pretty useful. The descriptions of the various areas they lived in or visited are fascinating. Some glimpses of how the local people lived. An idea of how Indians working for colonial authorities lived - perhaps plenty of poor treatment, but these probably were valued jobs?
I don't think too many Indians were traveling around the country and writing up their experiences - tourism among locals probably hadn't been invented for the most part at this time - so the book is useful in that way.
Immense expense of the way the colonial authorities travel - even in Belgaum, a lesser position, I think they were taking 24 bullock carts when traveling, setting up nice tents, etc. Nice government buildings. Presumably the locals are paying for this via some form of taxation. But was it worse than the palace-building and similar expenses incurred by Mughals or other dynasties (but paid by taxpayers)? Hard to figure out.
They are stationed at Belgaum (now known as Belagavi) as newlyweds - first half of book - NW Karnataka. Including lots of jungle. A son is born.
The camping episode - a long journey at p. 86ff, there was also the boat trip preceding along that portion of India's west coast - author is really perceptive and appreciative - it's a pleasure to read. Also interesting to think about what this kind of "camping" or travel would be like - a full staff taking care of everything, a tent outfitted completely.
Second half of book starts in the Sind (Karachi, large city in modern-day Pakistan) - a big promotion for hubby, this is a major position. Completely different setting - desert, dependent on Indus waters.
Sukkur water project is husband's single biggest goal. Trying to tame the Indus.
10 weeks of summer 1917 spent in Baluchistan - mountains - they love it. Another entirely different geography, author describes in wonderful detail. Kind of like the Brits stationed in Delhi and the like always escaping to the mountains in summer.
Back to Karachi; government duties. Trips along the Indus via a boat dedicated to hubby's job. Author falls ill; part of recovery is returning to the Baluchistan mountains the next year (it helps).
A "strange outbreak of illness in Karachi" - "they called it influenza" - yes, the Spanish Flu of 1918 arrives and it's horrific in India. Delays return to Karachi from Baluchistan but finally it happens.
Celebrations for Armistice Day (11/11/18) but this is a period of major unrest in India - independence expectations raised and dashed. Delays return home for British troops stationed in the area; they are unhappy.
Armritsar is far away to the northeast but the massacre there (via General Dyer) ties to Sind governance (somehow); disturbances in Karachi; author and husband sleep with revolvers by their beds. Gandhi a major figure already in 1919. Husband initially criticized for the way he handled the unrest but later exonerated and returns (with author) to a major position in Bombay in 1921.
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