96 The Hunting Grounds 



which a tiger was said to lurk, and where bison 

 often drank. We had come into a beautiful open 

 glade in the jungle, in the centre of which, on a 

 rising ground, stood a magnificent ' banian,' whilst 

 clumps of huge forest-trees were scattered about in 

 groups here and there, giving the place much the 

 appearance of a gentleman's park in England. In 

 a ' jheel ' or swamp, which was nearly dry, orchideous 

 plants of every form and hue formed such a parterre 

 that Chiswick itself could hardly equal ; and never 

 did I behold such luxurious vegetation. Yet this 

 was in the centre of dark and almost impenetrable 

 jungle, and at least twenty miles from the nearest 

 habitation we knew of. Whilst we were remarking 

 on the extreme beauty of the scene, suddenly I 

 observed that the sky had become overcast, and 

 thunder was heard rumbling in the distant hills. 

 Presently large drops fell, and we had every indi- 

 cation of a heavy fall of rain. I gave orders to 

 my people to pitch a small hill-tent we had with 

 us as soon as possible, so that at any rate we might 

 keep the guns and ammunition dry, and in the 

 mean time we took shelter under the banian tree, 

 where the people were employed in cutting tent- 

 pegs and gathering firewood. M was reclining 



smoking on a carpet, close to the main trunk of 

 the tree, when suddenly we thought we heard a 

 rustling above our heads, about ten feet from the 



