1889-90.] A Journey from Bombay to J eypore. 317 



denser, and we knew we were not far off the lurking-places 

 of numerous wild animals that we did not wish to meet 

 unarmed. The region abounds with big game, and is the 

 yearly rendezvous of many sportsmen. There are tigers, 

 panthers, leopards, lynx, bears, and several varieties of deer, 

 and a few lions, the latter being now a scarce animal in 

 India. We could only go along at a snail's pace, the track 

 was so steep ; and as the path was cut out of the precipitous 

 side of the mountain, we were sometimes on the brink of 

 an abyss, the dangers of which were only partially obscured 

 by the dense jungle. It is very curious that ponies seem 

 always to prefer going as close to the dangerous edge as pos- 

 sible. At first it causes alarm to an unaccustomed rider : 

 however, the feeling of danger soon passes off, and one is able 

 to enjoy themselves. I had a most curious experience, which 

 I have no wish to repeat. The pony on which I was mounted 

 behaved so strangely whenever I loosened the reins to look 

 about, that I got down and examined it, and found it had 

 entirely lost the sight of the left eye, which happened to be 

 the one next the precipice. At first, whenever we got into 

 dangerous places I tried to keep my steed as far back from 

 the outer edge as possible, but the beast was so determined to 

 walk close to the brink that I gave up the struggle in despair. 

 Many a time we were in perilous positions, but my one-eyed 

 pony took me safely through it all. 



As the day advanced the heat became intense, and all 

 nature seemed hushed. The birds appeared to be taking 

 their siesta, and beyond the movements of numerous squirrels, 

 and the dancing flight of butterflies, nothing stirred. We 

 plodded on, as we knew we would have to fast until we got 

 to Mount Abu, and the long journey we had made up our 

 minds to perform in one day permitted of no delay. Every 

 now and again we got glimpses of the valley below, the plain 

 stretching away in the direction from which we had come, 

 and the scenery was very grand, looking towards the rocky 

 peaks of the mountain spurs. About 3000 feet above the 

 plain we reached the summit of the first ridge. I shall never 

 forget the view. It is quite beyond the power of pen to 

 describe it. From our elevated position we looked along the 

 tops of the spurs and down into the valleys on each side of 



