THE TIGER. 309 



plateau, as I topped its edge after climbing up the stiff ascent 

 of the Eori GMt. The thermometer in my tent below had 

 been ranging from 98 degrees to 110 degrees during the heat 

 of the day, and had once reached 120 degrees, when I went 

 out and lay like a tiger under some jdman bushes by the 

 water-side. In the verandah of the lodge on Puchmurree, 

 which was now nearly finished, it stood at 86 degrees, while 

 the nights, which below had not for weeks been free from 

 hot winds, were cool and delicious up here. Soon after com- 

 ing up I was fairly prostrated with fever, and remained 

 delirious for about a couple of days, emerging at last, thanks 

 to a very attentive native doctor we had, much shaken and 

 weak, but free from the fever. Nearly all my servants and 

 the camp followers who had been through the hot weather 

 with me also got fever on coming up to Puchmurree, and the 

 place presented much the appearance of an extensive hospital 

 for some weeks. 



The first rain of the monsoon fell on the 12th of June, a 

 smart shower, that, as if by magic, covered the plateau with 

 the greenest of tints. The wild flowers, too, again burst 

 forth on all sides, under the influence of the gentle showers 

 that now almost daily visited the hill. It was inexpressibly 

 delightful to be up here, in a perfectly English climate, with 

 cool grey skies, and greenery all about, after the terrible 

 grilling we had suffered for two long months down below. 

 My Korku friends seemed glad to see me back again, and I 

 tried to go out after the bison with them, but I found myself 

 far too weak to negotiate the formidable slopes of Dhupgarh. 

 The early part of the rainy season which was now approach- 

 ing is the very best time of all for hunting the bison, tracks 

 being easily followed, while the sky is generally overcast with 

 clouds, and the weather cool in these high regions. Towards 



