2/0 The Hunting Grounds 



received us with great hospitality, and gave me a 

 map of his explorings in the surrounding forest. He 

 also deputed six Carders (some people of a wild 

 jungle tribe he has domesticated) to accompany us in 

 our trip. We lighted a huge box-fire outside his hut, 

 and had a good warm, for the night was very chilly ; 

 after which we dined, had a "jaw" as to our future 

 proceedings ; and turned in. 



The next morning went out after bison, soon found 



a fresh trail, and M got a shot, wounding a bull, 



which was found dead some days after by the Carders. 

 He recommended us to go to Taketty, and there 

 build a hut as head-quarters, as it was a famous 

 place for elephants, he having killed five tuskers near 

 there at different times. As the jungle was im- 

 penetrable for our baggage-animals on the top of the 

 mountains, a part of the gang had to go down into the 

 low country, arid ascend the mountains again by a 

 different ghaut. They, however, managed to do this 

 in one day, arriving at Taketty, which consists of 

 three or four wood-cutters' huts, just before sunset. 



The next day the gang constructed two huts, one 

 for ourselves, and the other for our servants and the 

 ponies, which would have been taken away by tigers 

 in the night had we left them picketted outside. 



M having some magisterial duty to perform 



in the low country, could not accompany us, so we 

 bade him adieu, and, under guidance of some of his 



