8 DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY 



Ghautwars, who accompany travellers through 

 the ghauts. They have a strange appearance, 

 being generally covered with the skin of a tiger, 

 leopard, or some other animal, and carry with 

 them a bow and arrows, ornamented with pea- 

 cock's feathers, or a cow's tail, a large shield also 

 ornamented, a spear or a match-lock gun and 

 sword. These people give the travellers confi- 

 dence, but very little protection ; and although 

 they have land for nothing, as well as an allowance 

 from the Rajah, they get much more by presents 

 from people passing on the road. There are 

 four ghauts to be passed ; first the Chittro, then 

 the Dungy e, both of which you ascend : the next 

 are the Kutlmmsany and Kendy ; by them you 

 descend into the low country. The distance 

 from each is nearly the same, and the average, to 

 the best of my recollection, is about twenty-two 

 miles. From this delineation of the features of 

 the country, we may clearly judge how great is 

 the improbability that the race of tigers should 

 ever be annihilated. 



To pass the different rivers on the new road 

 from Calcutta to Sheherghautty, there are no 

 boats at any of the ferries, excepting at the Da- 

 moodah river. All the other rivers are dry in the 



