This most enjoyable book is a sure way to fall in love with forests and their enchanting animals! Written during one hot Indian summer, as this talented and candid author puts it, this book "is an attempt 'to paint the picture' -- they are the actual experiences of a 'jungle foot slogger' who, with limited means has always run his own show -- and learned the jungles, from his own experience and study." Since the author was in the Army, the 3-10th Baluch Regiment (Queen Mary's Own), he wrote this book keeping in mind his colleagues from his Regiment who he thought would benefit from his understanding of the jungles of India. Today, his book stands out for its style, language, depth and keen understanding of the animal world. "I would only add, go into the jungle with a true sporting instinct . to study the life of the 'jungle folk' -- really study it. Learn the ways, the habits and the cunning, not only of big animals, but of the monkeys, vultures, buzzards, falcons, peafowl, jungle fowl, martens, weasels, stoats and even of the insects." The book has a special section on Hawking in India. A little gift awaits the reader at the end of the book -- a heart-warming true story of an adorable baby bear, Shaitan Bhalu.

The photographs of Shaitan and their adjoining captions make the story come alive!.