Imperial Valley press., 1944-10-15

of the experiences thoroughly en-.
ioyed by Lieutenant Jean Parks, sol
of Mr.. and Mrs. c. J. Parks OF
Brawley.
Lieutenant Parks has been in q
rest camp 5000 feet up in the Hima
laya mountains at a place called
Jalapahar. He travelled up the
mountain in a little train pulled by
coal-burning engine. In a letter
to his parents he described the bfs-
game hunt as follows:
"FOr reasons which might give
away our location, the name of the
member OF one OF the royal families
CT India who took US will not be
mentioned. I shall refer to him
merely as Mr.. Singh.
FOUND PALACE
"Samuels and I contacted this
man by making inquiries of the 10
cal police chief in regard to point
ing out a good place to hunt. He
referred us to this gentleman, who
lives not far away. After arriving
quiries CT natives, We found one who
was willing TO guide us tfor a few
annaS) to the palace. After winding
down several dark, dirty streets wide
enough only for a jeep, we came
upon what appeared to be a dry
moat, on the other side of which
there was a high brick wall. The
'moat and wall inclosed a court
yard in which the palace and
number of Hindu temples stood. We
passed through the gates and drove
around TO one side of the palace
where our little guide stopped us.
The palace proper seemed a little
rundown and in i'll repair.
Mr.. Singh came cut TO meet us
and we were q little surprised TO
learn that it was really he. He. was
barefoot and garbed only in a 1oin
cloth. He was a little man who
looked 80 but was As years old.
After hearing our troubles, he in
vited us in and we were seated in
q patio where we took tea and
talked. All the time we were sur
rounded by six of his sacred bulls
and cows which were in stalls
around US. This is the most honored
part of the house He seemed sur
prised that we do not keep cattle in
our homes in america.
GRANDSON OF RAJAH
Mr.. Singh Is not a ruler but q
member of the royal family, being
grandson CT a rajah on his moth
er's side For this reason he is mere
ly given some property (the old pal.
ace) and a pension of a thousand
rupees a month He went to college
and became a doctor but his Serv-
ices are required to be given free tc
all persons who need help and are
subjects of the present rajah. For
this reason the jungle people do
things for him when he wishes and
since he likes to hunt-they help
him or his friends hunt. That is
where we came in. He offered to ar
range everything if we would set
the date. So we set a date a few
weeks later and were to be at his
place at a. m. ...5t
THE day of the hunt we arrived
a little early. We brought Captain
Fletcher along. He brought his jeep
also as we needed more room than
my jeep would supply. This time
Mr. Singh was clad in a dressy
white costume and had on sandals.
We again took tea and native
bread similar to tortillas) and
cake.
-. We drove a few miles to a
river where we had to leave the
jeeps. BY the way, we were accom-
panied also by his bearer and a
couple of other servants, including
cook, with some food. At the river
we were met by native with a
small goat. This was purchased by
Mr.. Singh and was to be taken
along with us and killed for cur
noon meal.
BOATS WAITING -.
AT the rivers edge we found sew
eral natives awaiting US and stand
ing by two large dugouts about 25
feet long. They were very long and
slender and because we tenderfoot-
ers would probably tip them over,
if we used them singly, they were
fastened together side by side. We
boarded the boats, rifles, goat and
all, and proceeded across the river
which was about 400 feet wide.
Upon reaching the other side we
were met by a delegation Of the
jungle people and Mr.. Singh ap-
pointed bearer ito carry our guns
and a ulde-bodyguard fer each Of
US. My bodyguard. or guide, was a
husky, looking chap with a
ready smile and searching eyes! So
we started out into the jungle, Aft
er we walked about mile we came
to a house and stopped under a
large tree nearby. Beds were brought
cut and we were told that we could
rest for a while and take tea After
about an hour of this We started off
again and I looked back. There were
some more bearers carrying our beds
along behind. I could see then that
IL u,nc ooi,,U IN hp a DlpntV rOup6