A CLAMBER UP THE HILLS. 83 



our way, often almost in darkness, under over- 

 hanging boughs covered with heavy foliage, we 

 got into a deep cleft or narrow gorge in the side 

 of the mountain, which seemed to have been 

 caused by some violent convulsion of Nature. At 

 first it appeared that all further passage was closed 

 by a precipitous wall of rock, often quite vertical, 

 although fringed in places with trees growing out 

 of fissures in the sides; but as it was such a 

 strange wild kind of place, I determined to ex- 

 plore it, and, after some very difficult travelling 

 along narrow ledges and jutting shelves of strati- 

 fication, where the footing was most insecure, I 

 managed to scramble into a hollow basin, where the 

 ravine divided, each branch appearing to lead up 

 the side of the mountain. Here were some noble 

 teak trees, and a few clumps of bamboos of enor- 

 mous proportions, besides patches of fern and 

 luxurious grasses. From a crack in the solid rock, 

 about fifteen feet from the base, issued two small 

 streams, evidently having the same source, which 

 fell into a beautiful natural basin, bordered with 

 short green turf. The dogs immediately made 

 G 2 



