OF THE OLD WOULD. 2S5 



exploring the table-lands of the Annamullay range, 



but after a consultation with B , it was resolved 



to follow Chineah's advice ; so, having donned our 

 hunting-gear, we dismissed our bearers, who re- 

 turned with the palanquins, to Ooty, shouldered our 

 rifles, and struck off by a jungle-track leading along 

 the base of the hills. 



The heat was intense in the extreme, and we 

 perhaps felt it the more, liaving so lately left the 

 vernal freshness of the hills; but signs of game 

 were to be seen on every side, which encouraged 



us to proceed, and after what B called "a moist 



tramp " of nearly four hours, we arrived at the dry 

 bed of a mountain torrent, which we followed for 

 nearly three miles through a narrow gorge between 

 two densely-wooded hills. During this part of 

 our route we were entirely sheltered from the op- 

 pressive beams of the sun by overarching trees, 

 which were so densely covered with convolvuli, and 

 similar delicate climbers of every colour, as to form 

 an impervious shade overhead ; indeed it seemed as 

 if we were traversing a vast leafy bower. 



At last, aftar a good hour's clambering over huge 

 boulders of granite, ledges of rock, and loose shingle, 

 we came to a bed of sand, where we recognised the 

 pugs of two full-grown tigers, and innumerable 

 slots of deer, hog, and jungle-sheep. Here, from a 

 small open glade in the forest, I got a glimpse of 

 our route, and found that we were approaching an 

 apparently insurmountable barrier of mountains by 



