A IIUX THROUGH KATHIAWAR. . 217 



and quiet protection from the neutral bystanders, who 

 do not want to make an enemy of him, and who feel 

 that they may some day themselves have to take 

 to Wtainmttia, and will stand in need of similar 

 tolerance. 



I made so many inquiries about the great forest of 

 the Gi'r, with a view of spending some time there 

 afterwards, that I know a great deal about it, though 

 it still remains for me a sweet unvisited woodland. 

 Its hills, as can plainly be seen from the sea, are a 

 low continuation of the Gi'rnar group, notwithstanding 

 General Jacob's objection (which has no geological 

 validity) that there is a plain of twelve miles between 

 them. The Gir is not a plain, but a vast succession 

 of ridges and low hills, covered by forest-trees and 

 the densest jungle. Jacob, in his report of 4th 

 October 1842, says that he marched twenty miles 

 in it without finding room to pitch a becJiova. It 

 covers a distance of about fifty miles by thirty, and 

 would be almost impenetrable were it not for two 

 valleys which fall through it from north to south, and 

 the numerous streamlets which enter these valleys. 

 Its hills rise on the south to about 1000 feet, and 

 descend from that towards the north into mere un- 

 dulations. Its malaria is so injurious, and its water 

 is so poisoned by the decaying vegetation, that it is 

 not considered at all safe to enter it except between 

 January and the commencement of the rains in June. 

 Every way the best season for a hunting excursion in 



