296 The Hunting Grounds 



the " inner man," at the same time engaging a couple 

 of stout Coolies to carry them. 



All being in readiness, I gave orders to Chineah 

 my head (shekarry) to proceed at once, with the 

 gang, guns, and baggage, to a hut I had built on a 

 previous hunting expedition at the top of the Taketty 

 Pass, which was four marches from Ooty, and there 

 await our arrival. 



Although this was the hottest season of the year, 

 the temperature on the table-land of the Neilgherri 

 Hills was rarely much over 80, but knowing from 

 experience that it would be at least 40 higher in the 

 plains, we determined to get over that part of the 

 journey by night, in palanquins, with posted bearers, 

 so as to avoid any unnecessary exposure to the sun, 

 and get fresh to our ground. 



Having made arrangements with the police Ameen 

 to this effect, on the next day but one after the de- 

 parture of our people, we left my snug little domicile, 

 Burnside Cottage, at about three in the afternoon, 

 arriving at the travellers' bungalow, in Metrapol- 

 lium, at the foot of the Coonoor Pass, by sunset, 

 dined, and afterwards proceeded to Coimbatore, where 

 we remained only a few minutes, and again started 

 for the Annamullay Hills, the base of which we 

 reached by 10 A.M. 



Here, to my surprise, I found Chineah, the Goo- 

 roo, and one of B 's followers with our rifles, who 



