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| Indian soldiers in Burma (1887). |
My first acquaintance with Burma was
made in the early part of 1883. I was then a member of the Legislative Council
of India. Mr. Charles Bernard, who was Chief Commissioner of British Burma, had
asked for a year's leave, and Lord Ripon selected me to take his place. During
that year, 1883-4, I went over Lower Burma—British Burma as it was then
called—and learnt the methods of the administration and became acquainted with
the officers in the commission and the nature of the country and its people.
There was at that time very little communication between the Court of
Ava and the Chief Commissioner, who represented the Governor-General in
Council. The embassy which the King had sent to Simla with the ostensible
purpose of making a new treaty had been suddenly recalled, notwithstanding, and
perhaps in some degree because of, the very honourable and hospitable manner in
which Lord Ripon had received it.
The King was already negotiating a treaty with France, and in 1883,
before the mission despatched for this purpose to Europe had left Mandalay, it
was believed to have been drafted. But when I surrendered the office to Sir
Charles Bernard on his return from leave in February, 1884, there was no
thought of war in the near future.
From Rangoon I was transferred to
Nagpur, to the post of Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces. Towards the
end of 1885, fever drove me to England on sick leave just as the relations with
the King of Burma were broken off and war had become unavoidable. Returning
from leave in November, 1886, I found awaiting me at Suez orders posting me to
the Public Service Commission, of which the late Sir Charles Aitchison was
president.
