Life in an Indian Outpost

"Life in an Indian Outpost" by Major Gordon Casserly is a memoir about a soldier's time at a faraway fort in India during the early 1900s. The book tells of the author’s adventures as an officer at Buxa Duar, a fort close to the Himalayas, showing the difficulties and everyday activities in this faraway place. Casserly paints detailed pictures of the land, animals, and his relationships with soldiers and villagers, showing both the good and bad of living on the frontier. The book starts with the author and his group traveling across India by train, excited about their new post in the wild. When they get there, they hear that Buxa Duar is not a great place, full of wild animals and sickness. Even though he is first disappointed and worried about being alone, Major Casserly starts to get used to the remote outpost, admiring the beautiful scenery and performing his duties as an offer. The beginning of the book shows military life with friendship, the difficulties of being alone, and a growing love for the area's nature.