From surviving a plane crash, a kidnapping and an encounter with a murderous mob of fanatics to killing and eating a bear he found sharing his cave, William McDowells true-life story of India makes a colourful and extraordinary tale. He was also offered the freedom of the harem by his friend the Maharaja of Patiala, he unwittingly threw the president of the Punjabi National Congress out of a train after a dispute about the occupancy of a compartment, and he shot his own foot off in a hunting accident.