8 THE EASTERN HUNTEES, 



On the present occasion it had been selected with 

 great judgment. A small grove of mangoes, with 

 several isolated trees of the same kind scattered in 

 the immediate vicinity, offered a fine amount of 

 shade. They stood on open ground near the bank 

 of the river, and thus water and free circulation of 

 air were also secured. About twenty yards from 

 the grove, the bank sloped down towards the water 

 in that part a long deep pool. This was belted 

 by a narrow strip of brilliant green, contrasting 

 strongly with the parched appearance of the yellow 

 grass above. 



On the opposite side of the pool small trees and 

 shrubs, jutting out or depending from above, bathed 

 their hanging branches in the water, while behind 

 them the bank rose to some height. Some open 

 land separated the river from a belt of forest-trees 

 which extended to the foot of a range of jungle- 

 covered, ravine-cleft hills. Beyond these again rose 

 others, all well wooded with low brush and occa- 

 sional trees. Range on range, spliced one into the 

 other, thus filled up the background : in some places 

 rising abruptly into points or peaks ; in others flat, 

 with sheer descents at either end of the table-land. 



The neighbouring village was situated lower down 

 on a salient angle, round which the river swept, 

 about two hundred yards from the little camp. 



