230 MISCELLANEOUS. 



palms, just appearing over the surface, had a very novel 

 effect. Three large temples had also been covered by the 

 drifts, but it having been decreed by some Brahmin priests 

 that, in order to stop an epidemic of cholera, it would be 

 necessary to perform poojah in two of these edifices, a 

 vast crowd had assembled a short time before our arrival, 

 and, after immense labour, had excavated a passage to 

 their interiors. The drifts on the side of the village nearest 

 the river were nearly thirty feet high. The following days 

 were devoted to more muggers ; and some small game 

 shooting, snipe being very plentiful in several places, Mr. 

 Davy getting a bag of twenty brace in a few hours. For 

 the hot weather the best dress for the jungle is a very 

 loose cotton jacket, shaped like a shell jacket, stained light 

 brown with the bark of the babool tree. Pockets are 

 useless, and only catch in thorns, &c. Inside the jacket 

 buttons must be sewn for a quilted cotton garment, which 

 should invariably be worn during the day, as it protects 

 the spine and liver from the intense rays of the sun. This 

 is removable at pleasure, and for early morning or evening 

 work can be unbuttoned and temporarily set aside, but it is 

 an absolutely indispensable protection at other times. The 

 headdress, whether helmet or sola (pith) topee, must be 

 dyed the same colour as the jacket. A sufficient quantity 

 of the babool bark about as much as a quart measure will 

 contain is boiled in a chatty (earthen vessel), and the 

 clothing is inserted until the proper shade has been 

 attained. As the colour lightens after a few days' wear, 

 the tint of the cloth should always be deeper than what is 

 wished for, before it is removed from the dye. For breeches 

 a cloth called " char soutee "* is best, being stronger and 

 better suited for rough work, such as climbing and riding. 

 * Four- thread woven cloth. 



