ROADS THROUGH THE FOREST 17 



presented an easy slope on one face, up which the road 

 was zigzagged, gaining elevation at each tack ; but when 

 it came to rounding the extremity of the spur, the broken- 

 off ends of the strata formed lines of sheer precipice 

 sloping up the face of the hill, which must be passed 

 somehow to gain the sloping ground beyond. The line 

 would then sweep along the slopes of a side valley over- 

 looking a brawling stream buried in dense forest of dark 

 sal trees, and, higher up, evergreen oaks, acacias, and a 

 great variety of semi-tropical trees with creepers, all 

 tangled in an impassable jungle. Then it would gain the 

 easier slopes of a wider valley with terraced and cultivated 

 sides, and crossing the stream at a native village, it would 

 return along the opposite side of the valley towards the 

 main river, gaining altitude with every mile. The morn- 

 ing's work entailed hard climbing among great boulders 

 and rocks, and cutting a way through the thicket where 

 white men had seldom before penetrated — the haunt of 

 the tiger and other beasts of the jungle, as the tracks in 

 the wet sand by the streams clearly showed. The coolies, 

 however, worked cheerfully, their pleasant voices echoing 

 amongst the rocks and glens, as they shouted to one 

 anbther to indicate the direction explored, chopping at 

 the rope-like creepers and thorny brakes until a passage 

 was effected. The return to camp before noon for repose 

 and breakfast was well earned, and an appetite unfailing 

 after a cool bath made the meal an agreeable one. The 

 dogs watch their master, and Jacko the monkey, with 

 inscrutable expression, pretends not to see anything, but 

 is ready to play some prank on the dogs or servants 

 when they do not observe him. 



Jacko was captured when quite a tiny baby by some 

 boys from a troop of the common white-faced monkey, 

 and bought for a rupee. He was not larger than a half- 



2 



