THE TERAI REGION. 389 



forest and swamp land, answering exactly to this de- 

 scription, extending along the southern base of the 

 eastern part of the great Himalayan range for a dis- 

 tance of some 90 miles and varying from 20 to 25 

 miles in breadth ; the superficial area of the whole may 

 be roughly estimated at about 2000 square miles. This 

 region which is usually spoken of generally as " The 

 Terai, " in reality consists of two distinct belts. The 

 forest belt which lies close to the mountain foot is 

 known as the Bhabar. Here the water for the most 

 part disappears below the surface and filters through 

 the gravels beneath it, as far as the edge of the Terai 

 proper, or swamp belt, where it bursts forth in a series 

 of springs which inundate the land and form succes- 

 sions of pools and swamps which are in most cases 

 surrounded by high reeds and grasses. Finally the 

 surplus waters flow away in streams, to join the rivers 

 of the plain. From its known highly malarious char- 

 acter, the Terai is for the most part abandoned to a 

 state of Nature, it therefore forms the resort of most 

 of the larger and more wary kinds of Indian game, 

 which makes this district one of the best hunting 

 countries in Hindustan, where excellent sport may still 

 be obtained by the adventurous sportsman. To attempt 

 to hunt there however in the sickly season, would of 

 course be madness; but in the hot weather towards 

 the conclusion of the dry season fevers are much less 

 rife than at other times. This latter period is therefore 

 the time selected by sportsmen for their excursions. 



Lovers of wild sceneiy visiting the Terai will be 

 charmed with the richness and beauty of the vegetation 

 of the forest belt, where every now and again superb 

 vistas of the mighty Himalayan range may be enjoyed, 



