OF THE OLD WORLD. 31 3 



I also suggested that the gang should each subscribe 

 some small sum towards making up a purse for his 



father, (an old pensioned KaviLlar,) to which B 



and I would contribute a hundred rupees ; and I 

 was glad to see that when Chineah went round with 

 his cocoa-nut shell, every one present, even to the 

 coolies, put in his rupee or whatever he could afford. 



We then proceeded to deliberate on the plan for 

 the morrow, and to detail each man his duty. Vee- 

 rapah and Naga, with two Mulchers, were to ascend 

 the Ghaut on the left, to find out if the Carders (a 

 jungle tribe who inhabited that side of the moun- 

 tain) had seen any elephants lately, and afterwards 

 to join us at the head of the fall. Hassan was to go 



into Coimbatore with notes from B to K 



and C , informing them of our whereabouts, in 



case they could manage to join our party. Eama- 

 sawmy was to continue the preparation of the skins, 

 and Chineah, Googooloo, and two IMulclicrs were to 

 accompany us in a trip up the side of the ravine, 

 where the herd of bison had been seen. These 

 matters being settled, we sat smoking and chatting 

 for a couple of hours, and then turned in. 



Next morning the moon had only just set, and 

 there was but a slight tinge of gray in the eastern 

 sky, when my factotum " Five j\Iinutes" entered the 

 hut with hot coflfee flavoured with eau-de-vie, which 

 is the best morning-cup for a sportsman when in the 

 jungle, as it prevents any ill eflfects arising from in- 

 haling the vapour which still hangs upon the ground 



