AN EXPLOKATION IN THE FAR EAST. 423 



rises out of the sloping forest-covered hill- side, sweeping 

 right round the hill, an inaccessible barrier excepting 

 at the point we ascended, where a pathway has been 

 formed by excavation, and piling up huge blocks of 

 rocks. The entrance itself lay through a massive 

 double gateway of great blocks, laid without mortar ; 

 and a low wall, of similar cyclopean structure, had 

 surmounted 'the top of the precipice. Much of this 

 had now fallen into ruins, which could be seen lying 

 in great heaps in the jungle below ; but in some places, 

 particularly at the bastions, it was still almost complete. 

 The top was a tolerably level plateau, broken by a 

 few knolls, and was at that time covered by long yellow 

 grass, and dotted with trees. Among the latter I found 

 some specimens of the ebony tree,'"' which had evidently 

 been cultivated, their plum-like luscious fruit being 

 much larger and more fleshy -than the wild species, and 

 with very small stones. The only building on the 

 top is a small temple dedicated to the consort of Siva. 

 The extreme elevation of the hill, on a rising ground 

 above my tent, was shown by the aneroid barometer to 

 be .3,410 feet, which is almost identical with that of the 

 source of the Narbada at Amarkantak. 



I stayed up here till the 15th of May, rapidly 

 recovering from my attack, for which I took no medi- 

 cine but seidlitz powders. The only physic I ever took 

 from our worthy medico was what he called a " carmina- 

 tive," valuable in fits of ague — brandy and soda, to 

 wit. But he had a great eflect, with his purges, and 

 emetics, and seven-leagued medical talk, on the native 

 following. The Thakiir was exceedingly kind, visiting 

 me constantly, and sitting for hours talking about 

 the afl'airs of his jungly domain. He was a fine, tall, 

 * Diospyros inelanoxylon. 



