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part of the state and assuring general support to their field
activities. But each time the packages containing the tents
Would be offered for loading into the guard’s compartment the
guard would ask us to measure the length and other dimensions
and generally accept for loading into the compartment at the
last minute when the signal for starting the engine would be
given and the long whistle blown and there will be commotion
while the tents would be pushed into the carriage.

As I said earlier my father would be remitting by money order
an amount equal to my monthly needs like grocery, etc. But
taking payment of money order intended for me lying at
different post offices as and when I was shifting camp was an
ordeal as at every new place I had to establish my identity to the
satisfaction of the officer in charge of the post office! My
experiences in Channagiri and Savalanga were quite irritating.

Tarikere is a fairly big town unlike villages like Mundre or
Lingadahalli were small villages and interaction with the village
headman or patel as he was called was easy and general
requirements like milk and curd would be easier to get. Another
help that the headman would be approached for would be a
local field guide who would show the route to particular spots
while carrying out the survey as also to carry the G.M Counter.
I would be ready at six o’clock for my trek when my cook taken
from Madras would be ready with coffee and uppuma. After
breakfast I would start for the reference point in the survey map
with the guide in tow. On one of our trekking trips the guide
throwing formality and protocol to winds asked point blank,
“sir, why are you caught up with this mountain climbing work;
this is a thankless job!”Though his remark hit the target in my
self pride I had no convincing answer as the job gave me and
my family financial support and left no room for debate over
the dignity of the job itself. But I diverted my spare energies to
sensitize myself to the surroundings complete with tall areca
plantations, teakwood trees covering the sky in a canopy of
vegetation. The variety of bird calls and occasional bear’s

footprints lent an air of mystery and expectation. The sights and
sounds also served me as occasion for learning sporadic lessons

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