114 rilKrAilATION F01{ JOURNEY INLAND. 



while away time with reading- or a game at cards or 

 billiards. 



The preparations for a tour across country to the 

 Malabar coast is a somewhat formidable undertaking 

 as regards clothing and provisions, — the climate changes 

 with the elevation of the country, and I was told that 

 very inferior mutton and rice were the only articles 

 of food to be had in the native bazaars of the interior ; 

 in the latter I v^as agreeably disappointed, for I soon 

 found that my kitmagar managed to procure poultry, 

 eggs, ghee or clarified butter, milk and delicious fruit 

 in all but very out-of-the-way places. I therefore 

 recommend travellers in those regions not to load 

 their conveyance with an unlimited supply of pro- 

 visions, but confine themselves to groceries and a few 

 tins of delicacies to effect an occasional change in their 

 diet, and perhaps a case of wine, although the water 

 is excellent throughout, — cigars of course, some of the 

 best brands of Trichinopoli, can be had at Bangalore 

 for ten rupees per thousand. 



The only mode of travelling through Mysore is by 

 bullock, or transit-cart, admitting room for one or two 

 persons, a sort of elongated bread-cart, or pauper 

 hearse at home, painted canary-yellow ; on the outside 

 seat in front sits your servant, generally surrounded by 



