IN THE EAST INDIES. 45 
as well as parrots, doves of several sorts and big Sarus 
eranes in the fields. As the day progressed we passed 
through a great deal of cultivated land. The little 
villages were primitive and interesting. In the after- 
noon we ascended the plateau of Rajputana. The 
scenery was grand, but rather desert in character; 
this was predominant when we reached Mt. Abu, 
where only three inches of rain falls in a year. A good 
deal of thorough but very primitive irrigation is done 
to raise cotton, tobacco and indigo. This vicinity is 
famous for game : leopards, antelope, deer, ete. At 
dusk we saw what we took to be a hyena running away 
from the train. It may have been only a jackal. We 
reached here a few minutes before midnight. This 
hotel is Indian and run by a native, it is very good 
indeed considering. We have had a fine time since 
we arrived here. At Bombay I obtained Cook’s tour- 
ists’ checks for hotels, a coupon a day. This saves 
petty extortion for light, attendance, ete. Tomorrow 
we take an elephant and go out to see the old ruined 
eity of Amber. The ruins are said to be among the 
finest in all India. 
Rosamond is just now writing mother about what 
we have been doing and seeing to-day. This forenoon 
I bought for various people at home some little bits 
of brass work done in the bazar; it is quite character- 
istic and not done elsewhere. Rosamond got a little 
bracelet of gold enameled by a process which is under- 
stood only here. 
At Bombay I secured a bearer from T. Cook & 
Sons; he is a Mahommedan. I secured one because of 
the aversion of the Hindus to taking life, killing 
beetles, e. g. He is very good and quite necessary, 
