JAUNTS IN THE JUNGLE. 123 



then after very wet weather, a land-slip takes place 

 here and there, leaving a chasm of some twenty feet 

 in the roadway of which some bullock-cart, loaded 

 with baggage or merchandise, takes advantage when 

 travelling by night, to make a short cut to the bot- 

 tom, carrying its driver (who is most probably snoring 

 in the interior) along with it. The whole concern, as 

 a matter of course, being completely " pulpified" on 

 reaching the bottom. 



From Kandy to Colombo there is a so-called 

 "mail-coach," and the rate at which the horses trot 

 down the Kadaganarva Pass, with a precipice on one 

 side of at least a thousand feet, without the slightest 

 fence of any sort, makes one cling on to the sides of 

 the vehicle with most affectionate tenacity. 



After all, the pleasantest and most independent way 

 of travelling, when subject to such jungle casualties, 

 is on foot ; and I would gladly take the reader back 

 to head-quarters through a hitherto almost unex- 

 plored country, did I not suspect he has had a sufficient 

 dose of the jungle, at least for the present season. 



Having visited the summit of Hima-letta-wella 

 (where, if he prefers, he may remain till the end of 

 his days lost in admiration of the scenery), we will 

 retrace our steps homewards. 



On the top of this mountain, standing about 8000 

 feet above the level of the sea, is a small military out- 

 post ; and as it was but eight miles from the fort where 



