420 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTEAL INDIA. 



Lying in a low hollow between surrounding emi- 

 nences, the foul water- tanks, fetid with the slime of 

 centuries, breed among the people of Ratanpiir every 

 sort of loathsome disease; and everywhere the hideous 

 leper, and sufferer from elephantiasis, are seen stalking 

 gloomily about in the shadows of these decaying groves. 

 I was myself destined to share in the pestilence that is 

 rapidly depopulating the place. Coming in heated from 

 our ride, and the tents not having arrived, I was foolish 

 enough to throw myself down on a string bedstead I 

 found under a tree and go to sleep, and in the evening 

 found myself overtaken by a sensation which I did not 

 recognise. It was fever, but not that of the malaria I had 

 become accustomed to. Next morning I marched, 

 though very ill, ten miles to the next halting-place ; and 

 the day after, being much worse, was carried on six 

 miles further. After tossing about all night I suddenly 

 felt relieved from the burning fever, and became aware 

 of a fine crop of small-pox pustules on my feet. This 

 promised to be the end of my explorations ; but, as 1 

 had been duly vaccinated, I hoped the attack might be 

 a light one, and determined not to return to the station 

 while a hope remained of accomplishing my desire to 

 see the elephant-country. It was very hot where we 

 now were ; but about seven miles further on rose a high 

 conical hill, crowned by an old fortress, called Laiifagarh, 

 which seemed to possess an elevation of at least 3,000 

 feet ; and as, on inquiring about it, I found there was 

 shade and water on the top, I determined to get myself 

 carried up there to a cooler temperature, and fight 

 through it with the help of the worthy though not very 

 skilful native apothecary attached to our camp, while B. 

 went off to do as much of the exploration as possible in 

 the meantime. Next morning I was carried up to a 



