22 WILD LIFE IN NORTH CANARA. 



cotton tunic reaching nearly to the 

 knee, and very tight-fitting breeches of 

 the same material, laced at the back 

 of the calf. On the whole I was agree- 

 ably surprised at the appearance they 

 presented drawn up in line, and I 

 harangued them in Hindostani on their 

 duties. Many of our Mahratta ryots 

 in Soopah bore the name of Sawunt; 

 and as I was rather apprehensive of 

 sympathy being felt in Soopah for the 

 cause of Phond Sawunt, I thought it 

 necessary to impress on the Dessaies 

 and their men that collusion or sym- 

 pathy with rebels was as heinous a 

 crime as rebellion itself. When my 

 harangue was ended, old Motuppa 

 Dessaie came forward and propounded 

 a very pertinent question on a point I 



