“I was in my twelfth year when I entered this school, which contained from thirty to forty boys about my age.  The cleverest of these was Balty Mahu, who, like myself, belonged to the higher order of Brahmins.  He took the lead, not only in the exercises within the school, but in all the sports and pastimes out of it.  Nature, however, had not been equally kind to him in temper and disposition.  He was restless, ambitious, proud, vindictive, and implacable.  He could occasionally, too, practise cunning and deception; although anger and violence were more congenial to his nature.

“It soon appeared that I was to be his rival in the school, and from that moment he cordially hated me.  The praises that had previously been lavished on him by the teacher, were now shared by me, and most of the boys secretly rejoiced to see his proud spirit humbled.  In our sports I was also his successful competitor.  Nature had given me an excellent constitution; and though I had not a very robust frame, I could boast of great agility and flexibility of limbs.  When the sun had descended behind the mountain which screened our play-ground from his evening rays, we commonly amused ourselves in foot-races, and other pastimes, of which running was an important part.  In this exercise I had no equal.  I could also jump higher and farther than any boy in school, except one, and that one was not Balty Mahu.

“His ill-will was not slow in manifesting itself.  He took every occasion of contradicting me:  sometimes indulged in sly sneers at my expense, and now and then even attempted to turn me into open ridicule.  I always replied with spirit; but I found such contests as disagreeable to me as they were new.  One evening, under the pretext that I had purposely jostled him in running, he struck me, and we fought.  Although he was probably stronger than I, as he was heavier and older, my suppleness enabled me to get the better of him in a wrestle; and I got him under me, when the master, attracted by the shouts of the boys, made his appearance.  He separated and reproved us, and sent us off in disgrace to our respective rooms.  From that time Balty Mahu treated me with more outward respect than before; but I believe he hated me with more rancour than ever.

“I had now become the general favourite of the boys.  The school was, indeed, divided into parties, but mine was much the strongest; and of those who adhered to my rival, very few seemed cordially to dislike me.  Though this state of things was very annoying to me, it proved advantageous in one respect, as it made me more diligent in my studies, lest I should furnish my rival with an occasion of triumphing ever me; so that I owe a part of what I gained to the enmity of my rival.