ao4 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



I have been told by those who have seen them that 

 the forests far to the east are much grander. The trees 

 there are of enormous size. High aloft their branches 

 interlace, and form a canopy of foliage — a canopy 

 so thick, that through it even the rays of the Indian 

 hot weather sun can but faintly penetrate. Above 

 the forest there is dazzling sunshine ; the burning 

 wind sweeps by, carrying with it clouds of dust. Below 

 there is gloom, half twilight, motionless air, and a 

 silence broken only by the faint murmur of the wind 

 that roars above. 



In great contrast to those eastern forests was the 

 forest through which I was now proceeding. There 

 was plenty of sunlight, abundance of sound. The birds 

 twittered, the insects hummed, and the tall grass and 

 the leaves waved and rustled in the wind. Also I did 

 not want for society, for the road along which I was 

 travelling was the high-road to the Doon and Mus- 

 soorie, and carts, cattle, and foot - passengers were 

 continually passing along it. Once or twice also I 

 met camels. 



For the first few miles I enjoyed the ride. The forest 

 was a pleasant change from the monotonous aspect of 

 the cultivated country I had left behind. But after a 

 while the forest itself became wearisome. There were 

 no streams, no glades, no habitations, for ever the 

 same straight road, on either side the same scattered 

 trees, and between them the same patches of tall, 

 coarse grass and copse-like brushwood. The sameness 

 of the scene was not either diversified by the appearance 

 of any wild animals. The forest swarms with game of 



