“The ancient paused for a moment, as if his strength were failing. Yet I sensed that there was more to tell. Looking deep into my eyes, he whispered: 'The Gond kingdoms have fallen, their people live dispersed in poverty: the teak trees and the jungles have been cleared... but the importance of the Gonds must not be forgotten!”

“On a hard jungle journey nothing is so important as having a team you can trust.”

“As far as I was concerned, a little danger of head-shrinking is a small price to pay in return for a people who have remained true to an ancient code.”

“In moments of great uncertainty on my travels, I have always felt that something is protecting me, that I will come to no harm.”

“My father looked on in disbelief, overwhelmed that his son had been taught to eat glass and relish it.”

“I was becoming addicted to Bombay. There was squalor and poverty, but I had begun to realise my good fortune and would never again forget it.”

“I struggled to think pure thoughts, as Hector sucked out my psyche with his eyes.”