158 The Hunting Grounds 



bring a bear or hog to bay. These were followed by 

 the gang, with Chineah at their head, each carrying a 

 gun or rifle and short spear, and numbering with 



B 's followers close upon a dozen strong and wiry 



fellows, fit for any kind of work. Baggage-ponies, 

 bullocks, and coolies, laden with tents, boxes, &c., with 

 a troop of servants and hangers-on, brought up the rear. 



Our people were all going on three marches in ad- 

 vance to the village of Totteyum (about thirty-five 

 miles from Trichy, on the Salem road), where they 

 were to await our arrival, as, our leave not having 

 yet appeared in orders, we were unable to quit can- 

 tonments until the next day. The police authorities 

 had been previously warned to have carriage-bullocks 

 posted for us every five or six miles, as we deter- 

 mined to lose no time on the road. The next day 

 being the 1st of May, we attended a muster parade, 

 and, after paying a few visits P. P. C. to the ladies 

 of our acquaintance, and bidding adieu to some " of 

 the kindliest men who ever drew sword," at about 

 3 P.M. we attired ourselves in the light and airy cos- 

 tume of muslin shirts, silk long-drawers, and slippers, 

 and stepping into my cart, in a few moments we 

 were rolling along at the rate of five or six miles an 

 hour on the northern road leading to Salem. 



For some time we amused ourselves by chaffing 

 and poking fun at the wayfarers, particularly with 

 some pilgrims who were carrying two encased chatties 



