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Jungles Long Ago

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{ 15.34 x 23.59 cms} Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden Leaf Printing on round Spine (extra customization on request like complete leather, Golden Screen printing in Front, Color Leather, Colored book etc.) Reprinted in 2013 with the help of original edition published long back. This book is printed in black & white, sewing binding for longer life, printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, we processed each page manually and make them readable but in some cases some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume, if you wish to order a specific or all the volumes you may contact us. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. - ENGLISH, Pages 209. EXTRA 10 DAYS APART FROM THE NORMAL SHIPPING PERIOD WILL BE REQUIRED FOR LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. COMPLETE LEATHER WILL COST YOU EXTRA US$ 25 APART FROM THE LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. {FOLIO EDITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE.} Complete Jungles Long Ago 1976 Kenneth Anderson

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

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About the author

Kenneth Anderson

94 books75 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Kenneth Anderson (1910 – 1974) was an Indian writer and hunter who wrote many books about his adventures in the jungles of South India.

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5 stars
96 (55%)
4 stars
53 (30%)
3 stars
22 (12%)
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Mico.
39 reviews3 followers
February 13, 2021
CONTENTS

Jungle Longs Ago (1976, George Allen & Unwin). The book was published posthumously, two years after Kenneth Anderson's death in 1974.

'''Kenneth Anderson 1910-1974'''

A brief biography of Anderson written by Malcolm Barnes. This section was omitted from some later publications.

'''Introduction'''

Anderson begins his final book by speaking of the regular correspondence he receives from his readers. One reader from England questions how he can preach of animal preservation, but at the same time enjoy hunting. Anderson goes on to explain that this book contains no stories of hunting man-eaters, and no shooting of any animal - the book compromises various jungle stories and memories from throughout his life. Anderson ends the introduction; "Close your eyes and listen to my tales of tigers, of adventure and mystery, as the jungle breezes waft the night scent of the wild flowers on a cool current that fans your brow, and remember that you are in a land where time is of no consequence and the word 'hurry' is never spoken".

'''A Night in Spider Valley'''

Anderson recounts his ghooming experiences in Spider Valley with his school-hood friend, Eric Newcombe. Writing of his modified car, nicknamed 'sudden death', and then of their run in with elephants, spiders and snakes before a huge storm hits. Later they meet Anderson's poojaree friend, Byra - who is concerned that they are entering the forest unarmed and at night when there is a reported [[rogue elephant]] in the area. Byra joins their ghooming trip - but the men end up being discovered by the rogue elephant. Despite their many attempts to hide from the rogue it persists in its attack until it manages to get hold of poor Byra.

'''The Medical Lore of India'''

Anderson shares his knowledge of local medicines used in Southern Indian villages. Such homemade remedies include; placing cattle dung on an open wound, using juice from freshly broken pods of garlic to relieve irritation of mosquito bites, putting a patient on a low diet and giving him his own urine to drink to cure general complaints, and for an aphrodisiac - eating the eyes of a still breathing Slender Lorris Monkey. Anderson completes the story by detailing the circular tin box he owns, filled with blue glass bottles each containing 'secret' herbs in powder form. He carries the box wherever he goes and takes a pinch of powder from each bottle every morning and every night, maintaining that because of this he has never caught a cold, fever or flu.

'''Occult Lore and Other Matters'''

Anderson discusses medicine men, fortune tellers, hypnotism, and matters of the occult in Southern India. Recounting local villagers he has met who have claimed to be possessed, and how some were cured by a Black Magician whilst others drove themselves to death. He also tells the story of Shri Narsiah - who receives telegrams from thousands of miles away from villagers asking for assistance with a deadly snake bite. When such a telegram is received, Shri Narsiah hastens to a little sacred tree and hangs a short strip of dhoti to a branch whilst muttering a mantra aloud. Reportedly this causes the snake to die instantly and the victim to be immediately cured. When Anderson receives a bite from a King Cobra he gets to experience this cure first hand.

'''Some Indian Game Sanctuaries'''

Anderson details his trip to five game sanctuaries of Northern India, including his tour to see the rare Asian Lion of Gir and the one-horned Rhino of Kaziranga. Recounting his day to day tour activities, as well as discussing the plight of these endangered animals and the work of the Game Sanctuaries.

'''The Anaibiddahalla Tigress'''

Anderson tells the story of how a cartman tries to fend off a wounded tigress and her cubs from his cattle and pays the ultimate price. He also writes of another cartman who arrives at the Muttur forest bungalow with a Cobra bite - Anderson tries his best to assist, but the poor man dies within 2 hours.

'''In a Jungle Long Ago'''

The son of a wealthy land owner has an affair with the beautiful daughter of one of his poor old land workers. When the girl becomes pregnant, the son and his wealthy father cover up the affair by murdering the girl and paying their driver to dispose of the body. When the father of the girl starts looking into the girl's disappearance and accuses the land owner of involvement - he too is disposed of. Not long after these events a mysterious tiger, 'The Avenging Spirit' appears in the forest and kills the wife and boy of the land owner's son. The tiger ate no flesh of either victim, but only made the kill and then disappeared. Anderson is contacted and arrives in the village to investigate the killing. The villagers refuse to assist Anderson, and after recounting the story so far, explain that the murdered father has returned to seek revenge for his daughter. Next to die is the driver, whose car mysteriously leaves the road and crashes into a lake killing him. These events worry the wealthy son to such an extent that he is driven to a nervous insanity and the father has him committed to an asylum - leaving himself without an heir to his land. One night the son disappears from his locked room and is later found outside the asylum grounds killed by the tiger. After this last death the tiger is never heard of again.
Profile Image for Anandaroop.
24 reviews3 followers
February 28, 2021
You go for a walk, you capture a cobra with your bare hands, get charged by elephants, almost get killed for snooping on mating tigers, and escape a murderous rogue elephant. Just a regular day, if you are Kenneth Anderson. 3.5 stars + 0.5 for the onomatopoeia.
Profile Image for Amrendra.
355 reviews17 followers
February 25, 2021
A classic by Anderson. In this book, Kenneth Anderson (1910-74) takes a break from big game hunting to lovingly reminisce about the days he spent amidst the simple folk who inhabit the fringes of the forest - Byra, the pujari, who teaches him jungle lore; Ranga, the shikari, who's happy with his gun and game and Kaiyara, the cowherder, who's betrayed by his master and is believed to avenge her daughter's murder as a spirit in the form of a tiger.

The book contains the following chapters
1. The Night in the Spider Valley
2. The Medical Lore of India
3. Occult Lore and other matters
4. Some Indian Game Sanctuaries
5. The Anaibiddahalla Tigress
6. In a Jungle Long Ago

The book is a wild journey abounding in tigers, elephants and wildlife and touching upon the culture, local medicines, occult practices, folklore, etc of South Indian forests and communities of those times. The last story is the best one treading on the world of ghosts and spirits in the form of a tiger, out there to avenge the betrayal and murder of a simple village lass.

Times have changed and the feel of the forest of those times can be felt only by reading such writers as Corbett, Anderson, etc. Through these writings the reader can once again tread the magical forests of those times. This delightful book is also unique as it reveals an altogether new side of Anderson, a human compassion that equals his passion for hunting.
Profile Image for Idyll.
221 reviews36 followers
May 5, 2024
I was particularly struck by the extensive exploration of Indian occult practices in the book.
Anderson's description of the "aborigines" in the Indian jungle provided an amusing insight into the colonial mindset of his time. Growing up in Secunderabad and Bangalore, cities my family also calls home, undoubtedly shaped his understanding of the region.

However, as engrossing as Anderson's essays are, they also left me pondering the veracity of his accounts. Could a single evening in the jungle truly offer encounters with such a diverse array of wildlife? From a bear to three tigers, a cobra, a specific male elephant within a herd, sambars, deer, and even surviving a torrential tropical rainstorm—it's a remarkable breadth of experiences that invites skepticism.

Nonetheless, I found myself thoroughly entertained by the essays. They provide a window into a bygone era and offer a compelling glimpse into the adventures of a British colonial in the Indian jungles.
9 reviews
December 15, 2019
Kenneth Anderson was an Indian "Ghoomer" and "Shikari" of Scottish origin. The book was written in an era where the Indian wildlife riches was lowest ever in history as Britishers and flagitious Mughals had depleted the glorious fauna, also the serious conservation measures did not start till late 90's. The most endearing part of Kenneth was that he didn't out-rightly rejected the practices of tribals and village-folks even though it sometimes did not make much sense to him. His knowledge of the local wildlife topography was impeccable. Add to the fact, the book reminisces of the time when "hurry" was not a part of daily lexicon makes it a reposeful read.

'How could we dorai?'
Profile Image for Santanu Dutta.
175 reviews4 followers
March 10, 2018
This is my second read.
This time the reading was much better with further deeper understanding. The love for the jungle, the animals and the people of jungle is nicely visible. The love for the crude forces of nature as we face on rare occasions is vividly visualized in the first chapter, "The Spider Valley" and so is also another excellent read was "The Anaibiddahalla Tigress" and in last story, "In a Jungle Long Ago."
22 reviews
May 3, 2020
FANTASTIC JUNGLE-STORIES.

Fantastic story-telling!!! Kenneth Anderson is a master story-teller of all things Indian. His love for India & it’s people, it’s culture & all things Indian speaks volumes!!! His detailed knowledge of the Indian jungle & the people & animals that inhabit those regions is epic!! Highly recommend this book if you love the outdoors & GREAT stories.
Profile Image for Avijit Sett.
26 reviews
November 30, 2018
I have finished all his books and with I have finished wandering in the Indian jungles with him. Feeling sad and at the same time feeling rejuvenated from all the adventure I had with him. :-)

Recommended for anybody who wants know about Indian jungles.
11 reviews
January 8, 2023
Interesting records of the wild past in South India

The book details the forests, it's animals and people from an age when there were large jungles to be found even outside sanctuaries as they are today. A priceless witness of an India that once was.
Profile Image for Vikum Jayarathne.
2 reviews3 followers
July 11, 2012
A window to peep into the lives and beliefs of natives in India towards the last days of colonial era. And also a very resourceful book about jungles and their behaviors in India.
Profile Image for Aruna Kumar Gadepalli.
3,019 reviews120 followers
September 12, 2013
This book contains various episodes of adventures of Kenneth Anderson in the jungles. Easy and quick read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews