OF THE OLD WORLD. 2o / 



row was destined for preparation, and the day after 

 for departure. 



During the night I heard the shrill notes of the 

 cholera horn and other discordant Hindoo music, 

 and my head servant, Yacoob Khan, a Mussulman, 

 informed me that the gang had that evening fed 

 twenty Brahmins, and that they were then perform- 

 ing Poojah (religious ceremonies) in honour of the 

 god Haniman. The next morning, on my way to 

 the racket-court, as I passed by the lake, I saw the 

 image of the god in its original position, decked 

 out with wreaths of jessamine, and other fragrant 

 flowers, and gaudily painted with yellow ochre and 

 tinsel. Some of the gang must have had a cool dip 

 during the night, for the water was deep where the 

 idol was thrown in. 



We were very busy all the next day in getting 

 supplies, casting hardened bullets, and arranging 

 our baggage, all of which was carried on ponies or 

 coolies' shoulders, and in the evening, as soon as the 

 moon rose, the traps started, escorted by the gang, 

 for Annamullay, a considerable village about five 

 miles from the ghaut or pass leading up the moun- 

 tain. B and I rode on at daybreak, and passed 



the greater part of the day in hunting up villagers 

 who knew something of the hills, in which search, 

 through the agency of the curnum, or head police 

 authority, we were tolerably successful, as we secured 

 the services of three men, whose employment was 

 hunting in the deepest jimgle for cardamums. Un- 



K 



