3i6 A Joiirney from Bombay to Jeypore. [Sess. 



about 2s. for his day's work. We had the usual difficulties 

 in starting with our steeds ; and when we came upon a 

 Government elephant just outside the station, we had no time 

 almost to look at the huge beast, we were so much engaged 

 trying to keep our saddles. However, we soon got fairly on 

 the way, and had time to look around us. We were on a 

 great plain which stretched away to the south and south-west 

 as far as the eye could reach. There was much sand, with 

 patches of long rank grass, and altogether the scene was 

 typical of what was associated in our minds as like India. 

 About a mile from Abu Eoad we crossed the Banas river by 

 a long wooden bridge of rather rickety construction. We 

 kept on over the plain toward the wooded spurs of the 

 mountain, about three miles to the north. As we approached 

 them more verdure appeared, then a few trees, and close to 

 the foot of the ascent we entered the dense forest and jungle. 

 The sun had now got high in the heavens, and we were 

 gratefvil for the shade. We had hardly got beneath the trees 

 when several wild peacocks strutted across the path in front 

 of us, quite fearless, and almost seemed to resent our in- 

 trusion. A short distance farther on, a crashing sound 

 arrested . our attention, and as it came nearer I at first 

 thought it must be a whirlwind. Our ponies got restless, 

 but the natives only smiled, so I knew we need not excite 

 ourselves. I rode towards the noise, and soon heard a 

 chattering, and saw the boughs of the trees bending in an 

 extraordinary way. It was a great troop of monkeys that 

 had come to inspect us. How they crowded the branches 

 that bent with their weight as if they would break ! There 

 were some so inquisitive that they sat on the trees within a 

 few feet of our heads, and pulled the foliage aside to have 

 a good look at us. Mother monkeys came to the front with 

 their children clinging to them, to see the strange white faces 

 and unusual costumes of the visitors. IN'o doubt they asked 

 questions and passed remarks as if we were wild beasts in 

 a menagerie, but they offered us no nuts, and after much 

 animated discussion in monkey language they ceased following, 

 and we hurried on our way. 



The path now became rougher and narrower as we ascended 

 the spur of the mountain. The tropical vegetation became 



