ABSTRACT
Poona had greatly changed since the days when the last Peshwa fled from Parwati Hill or the subsequent era of decay when the old palaces crumbled into dusty ruin and Lady West glanced disgustedly at the ceremonies celebrated with dwindling pomp in the former royal chapel. It was the headquarters of the Southern Command. Its pleasant climate, the ease with which English flowers could be grown during the rains, the facilities for riding and almost every kind of sport had made it a favourite station with both military and civilian. The Cantonment was well laid out, with wide straight roads lined with shady trees. Business men up from Bombay for a visit discussed the chances at the Governor's Cup Race-meeting; or congratulated residents in Poona on their luck in having so pleasant a climate. In Poona one would pitch one's tents in a friend's garden; but one applied to the Superintendent for a plot in the jungle.
