OF THE OLD WOKLD. 379 



by shouting, and he vented his indignation by setting 

 up a melancholy howl, which started a most infernal 

 chorus from half a dozen packs in the neighbouring 

 woods; but being well accustomed to such "jungle 

 melody," I turned over, and once more composed 

 myself to sleep. 



When I awoke the next morning, I found my 

 followers busily employed in rubbing down the 

 horses, and the whole of the male portion of the 

 tribe, with the exception of a few left to guard the 

 village, preparing for the field. I gave myself a 

 shake like a spaniel, and washed out my mouth, (the 

 ordinary toilet of a hunter of the deep jungle, who 

 generally performs his ablutions in the first stream 

 he comes to,) and after hastily swallowing a cup of 

 cofi'ee and a biscuit, I mounted my horse, and hastened 

 the departure of the party, which consisted of about 

 forty individuals, most of them mounted on rough 

 mountain-ponies, and armed with matchlocks, pis- 

 tols, attaghans, &c. 



The track lay through a gorge in the mountains, 

 and, when day broke, presented a magnificent scene, 

 as the sun dispelled the fog and mists which seemed 

 to cling to the gigantic masses of rock piled on each 

 other in endless variety of shape and extraordinary 

 confusion ; but I felt too much absorbed in sur- 

 mising upon the diflferent kinds of large game that 

 were likely to be met with in such a vast extent of 

 virgin forest, to pay very much attention to the pic- 

 turesque beauties that lay in my path. 



