INTRODUCTORY. 7 



travelled by land in a munchil, a 

 simple and ingenious contrivance pecu- 

 liar to the western coast of India, and 

 which merits special description. 



A stout canvas hammock, the ends of 

 which are prevented from collapsing by 

 crossbars of wood let into the extre- 

 mities of the canvas, is suspended by 

 chains from a pole of nine or ten feet 

 long. The chains are fastened to rings 

 in the crossbars, and the hammock 

 hangs about two feet below the pole ; a 

 thin mattress and a pillow complete its 

 internal equipment, and the traveller is 

 secured from sun and rain by a broad 

 waterproof top which rests on the upper 

 side of the pole, and can be slanted at 

 will to either side. The munchil is 

 very comfortable, and so light that four 



