502 THE NORTHERN FORESTS. [rART IX. 



of the forest, and their sloping sides rendered it difficult 

 for horses to retain a secure footino-. So httle is this 

 country known or frequented by Eiu'opeans, that the 

 Odear, or native headman, who acted as our guide to the 

 great tank, told me I was the third white man who had 

 visited it for thirty years. 



Owing to the richness of the soil and the abundance 

 of water, the trees were of extraordinary size, especially 

 the species of Strychnos, which rose into vast mounds of 

 verdure covered profusely with rich orange fruit. The 

 pahi, by far the most valuable timber tree of the north, 

 here attains gigantic dimensions, and its topmost branches 

 are the favourite resort of the Buceros, the Indian 

 Toucan. 



Before daybreak Ave entered on the bed of the tank 

 of Padivil, at its south-eastern angle, and proceeded 

 towards the main embankment, a ride which occupied 

 us nearly two hours. The tank itself is the basin of 

 a broad and shallow valley, formed by two hues of low 

 hills, which gradually sink into the plain as they 

 approach towards the sea. The extreme breadth of 

 the enclosed space may be twelve or fourteen miles, 

 narrowing to eleven at the spot where the retaining bund 

 has been constructed across the valley ; and when this 

 enormous embankment was in effectual repair, and the 

 reservou^ filled by the rains, the Avater must have been 

 throAvn back along the basin of the vaUey for at least 

 fifteen miles. It is difficult now to determine the precise 

 distances, as the recent overgrowth of Avood and jungle 

 has obhterated all hues left l^y the original level of the 

 lake at its junction with the forest. Even Avlien Ave rode 

 OA^er it, the centre of the tank Avas deeply submerged, 

 so that notAvithstanding the partial escape, tlie Avater 

 still covered an area of ten miles in diameter. Its depth 

 when full must be A^ery considerable, for higli on the 

 branches of the trees Avhich groAV in the area, the last 

 flood had left quantities of driftAvood and Avithered 

 grass ; and the rocks and banks Avere coated Avitli the 



