1889-90.] A Jonniey from Bombay to Jeypore. 321 



the waning light every tree appeared suddenly to become full 

 of life, and the teeming multitudes of living things making 

 themselves heard all around was amazing. It soon got so 

 dark as we descended the mountain that we had to allow our 

 horses to have their reins loose. They picked their way very 

 well, although there was always the danger of some wild 

 animal crossing our path, or lying near in the jungle. Horses 

 become restive under such circumstances, and one false step 

 on the narrow path meant a tumble over a precipice. The 

 moon was up, but for some time we got no benefit from it, 

 as we were in the shadow of the mountain spur. It was an 

 ever-to-be-remembered sight — the weird illumination of the 

 deep wooded valley, the opposite mountain-spur with its bare 

 rocks, and in the distance the view of the plain as if we saw 

 it through a film of smoke. As we descended we got out of 

 the shadow, and the silvery light gave to everything an extra- 

 ordinary beauty, in strange contrast to what we had seen in 

 the daylight. It must have been a curious sight to view our 

 cavalcade : first rode my wife, her pony led by our wild-look- 

 ing Gujerati sijcc ; then Miss S. ; next myself, followed by 

 our servant Lhalla. Every now and again the leaves would 

 rustle, as some small animal startled by our presence rushed 

 off into the forest, but none of the larger beasts of prey or 

 monkeys troubled us. 



When we reached the foot of the mountain, I told our 

 servant to ride on to Abu Eoad station, and order some 

 refreshment to be got ready for us. Miss S. and I galloped 

 with him, to stretch our limbs after the long walk down hill, 

 but had only got about 150 yards when the violent cries of 

 terror of the Gujerati syce made us hurry back. We found 

 he was in great fear of being killed by wild beasts, and his 

 excited state had rather alarmed my wife. We remained 

 close together until we were well out of the plain. About a 

 mile from our destination I again went ahead a short distance, 

 when, hearing a cry, I looked round and saw a riderless pony 

 making towards me. I rode up to it, and after some difficulty 

 seized its bridle, but in the struggle tliat ensued the bridle 

 gave way, and the bit came out of its mouth. It galloped off, 

 leaving the bridle in my hands. I knew it was the animal 

 Miss S. rode, so I returned to the ladies as quickly as possible, 

 and was glad to find that although the pony had stumbled 



