288 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



left on the surface. Four or five trees, however, 

 which stood at the edge of the dried-up mud, pro- 

 bably drew some sustenance from a deeper source, 

 for they were comparatively lofty, and towered over 

 the low jungle, thus rendering the place easily dis- 

 cerned, even from a distance. 



At the roots of these trees were several blocks of 

 stone, rudely shaped, so as to represent some one of 

 the hideous image gods in which the Hindoo Pan- 

 theon is so prolific. Tailed or trunked monsters, 

 daubed with the sacred red paint, here gave their 

 protection to the solitary wayfarer, and shielded the 

 humble devotee from the jungle perils. 



With a few muttered words, and an obeisance or 

 two, the natives besought their favour, and then sat 

 down without any further notice, and made their 

 preparations for a smoke. Pipes were produced, 

 and small stores of tobacco disentangled from the 

 recesses of their puggrees or waistcloths, in secluded 

 corners of which a limited supply had been cun- 

 ningly stowed away ; and they smoked regardless of 

 the proximity of their protecting images. 



The fumes of tobacco, both from the above- 

 mentioned pipes and the more refined manillas of 

 the white faces, was wafted away into the jungle, 

 and could be traced at a considerable distance. Two 

 emissaries from Rugonauth, who wore approaching 



