CHAPTER II. 



THE NAEBADA VALLEY. 



Start for the Mahadeo Hills Camp of an Explorer Travelling in Wild Re- 

 gions Capture of a Camel March down the Narbadd Valley Gorge in 

 the Eiver The Marble Eocks Colonies of Bees Fatal attack by a 

 Swarm Their Ferocity Capture of the Honey Moonlight Pic-nics 

 Crocodiles and Fish Shooting a Crocodile Cold Weather Marching 

 Prosperity of the Country Description of Hindu Eaces in the Valley 

 Abundance of Game Wild-fowl and Snipe Partridge and Quail Shoot- 

 ing Adventure with a Snake The Black Antelope Methods of Stalking 

 A Solitary Buck The Indian Gazelle Method of Shooting The Nilgai 

 The Hunting Leopard The Wolf Man-killing Wolves Destruction of a 

 Pair" Tinker" and the Wolf Wild Boars The People of the Narbada 

 Valley Gond Labourers The Mhowa Tree Coal Mines Snipe Shoot- 

 ing Hill Forts Junglo Clearings Forest Animals. 



Early in January, 1862, I received instructions to proceed 

 to the Puchmurree (Pachmarhi) hills the lofty block I have 

 described as crowning the Satpura range to the south of the 

 Narbada river. There the centre of our operations in that 

 extensive forest region was to be fixed ; a permanent forest 

 lodge was to be built in the heart of the country of the Gonds 

 and Korkus, whose interests we were to endeavour to unite 

 with our own in the preservation of the remnants of the fine 

 forests that clothed the slopes of their hills. The country to 

 be explored was, as I have said, little known. But it was 

 sufficiently ascertained that plenty of rough work was before 

 us in overcoming the obstacles presented by the rugged nature 

 of the land and its inhabitants. 



The organisation of such a camp as is admissible in such a 



