312 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



deep cleft of the rock, where it could not be well 

 seen at any distance from the surrounding jungle ; 

 and here we found the gang and all our people as- 

 sembled, according to their usual custom when out 

 in the jungle on a "Shekar" expedition. The 

 Gooroo and Veerapah were enlivening the party 

 with some extemporary chanting, and at the same 

 time accompanying themselves on the " sitarr" and 

 " sarinda, "* whilst Chineah and the coolies per- 

 formed on tomtoms, and Eamasawmy gave occa- 

 sional discordant flourishes on the cholera horn, 



which we were obliged to decline, as B declared 



it would make his dinner disagree with him. 



As we took our seats on a carpet spread over a 

 heap of dry leaves which had been prepared for us, 

 the concert ceased, and each man produced his pan- 

 nikin or cocoa-nut shell, for it was my custom to give 

 every one in camp a glass of rakee, and tobacco or 

 cheroot, when we assembled in council round the 

 camp-fire in the evening to consult as to the mor- 

 row's proceedings. As soon as the grog had been 

 served out, and all were enjoying the fragrant weed, 

 I opened the proceedings by expressing my regret 

 that such an imtoward event should have befallen 

 the cano; as to lose one of their number ; but I ex- 

 plained to them that poor All had lost his life by 

 disobeying my positive orders in foolishly straggling 

 from the rest, and I hoped his sad fate would be a 

 warning to the gang to be more careful in future. 



* Rude iuotruments somewhat resembling the violin and guitar. 



