86 MADRAS, PONDICHERRY, TRAVANCORE 



miles of cliff climbing on foot in torrential rain the 

 whole time. I had to ford three torrents waist-high 

 and in one case I was wet nearly up to my shoulders. 

 Had it been possible, of course I should have 

 turned back, but the valley behind had practically 

 become a sheet of water. I reached my destina- 

 tion, Oodmanshola, more dead than alive. In a 

 bungalow where I was to pass the night, I met 

 Mr. Vernede, senior, who is Magistrate of the 

 district, and who had undertaken to look after me. 

 With him was Mr. Fraser, a tea-planter, and one 

 of the nicest men I have ever come across. No- 

 thing could have exceeded their kindness. They 

 rubbed me dry, wrapped me up in their own warm 

 things, and put me to bed after giving me some 

 soup. 



Next day I stopped in bed, feeling very queer, 

 till late in the afternoon, when a slight break in the 

 weather tempted me to stroll a short way on to 

 a conical hill close to the bungalow. I had a 

 telescope with me and I saw the most beautiful 

 sight I have ever seen. It was like being in a 

 huge zoological gardens. I saw two bears playing 

 about like two dogs, romping after each other, 

 rolling over each other, and occasionally giving 

 each other a smack. I saw a small herd of three 

 bison, animals which are becoming rare in India, 

 and what I enjoyed most, seven wild elephants, 

 two of which were babies, or, as they are called here, 

 batchas. They were quite unconscious that we were 

 within half a mile of them, and they walked about 

 the long grass tearing at the tree-tops, pulling up 

 bamboos, and generally having a good time of it. 

 The country round reminded me of Guisachan, 



