AN EXPLOEATION IN THE FAR EAST. 413 



ring the old fabric of Hinduism to its very foundations. 

 Whether or not these movements towards a purer faith will, 

 like their great predecessor, degenerate after a time into 

 another and lower form of idolatry than that from which they 

 have emerged, remains to be seen. 



Lying in a low hollow between surrounding eminences, 

 the foul water-tanks, fetid with the slime of centuries, breed 

 among the people of Katanpur every sort of loathsome disease ; 

 and everywhere the hideous leper, and sufferer from elephan- 

 tiasis, are seen stalking gloomily about in the shadows of 

 these decaying groves. I was myself destined to share in the 

 pestilence that is rapidly depopulating the place. Coming in 

 heated from our ride, and the tents not having arrived, I was 

 foolish enough to throw myself down on a string bedstead I 

 found under a tree and go to sleep, and in the evening found 

 myself overtaken by a sensation which I did not recognise. 

 It was fever, but not that of the malaria I had become 

 accustomed to. Next morning I marched, though very ill, 

 ten miles to the next halting-place ; and the day after, being 

 much worse, was carried on six miles further. After tossing 

 about all night I suddenly felt relieved from the burning 

 fever, and became aware of a fine crop of small-pox pustules 

 on my feet. This promised to be the end of my explorations ; 

 but, as I had been duly vaccinated, I hoped the attack might 

 be a light one, and determined not to return to the station 

 while a hope remained of accomplishing my desire to see the 

 elephant-country. It was very hot where we now were ; but 

 about seven miles further on rose a high conical hill, crowned 

 by an old fortress, called Laafagarh, which seemed to possess 

 an elevation of at least 3,000 feet ; and as, on inquiring about 

 it, I found there was shade and water on the top, 1 determined 

 to get myself carried up there to a cooler temperature, and 



