It began somewhere in the middle of the world, between London which is the beginning andNew York which is the end, where all things are east of the one and west of the other. To beprecise, a forlorn landing on the west bank of the muddy turbulent Irrawaddy, remembered byman only so often as it was necessary for the flotilla boat to call for paddy, a visitingcommissioner anxious to get away, or a family homeward-bound. Somewhere in the northeastwas...