of the Old World. 297 



informed us that they had come across a couple of 

 Mulchers (a jungle tribe), who had taken them to a 

 ravine alive with game of all kinds, which they 

 begged we would try before ascending the Ghauts. 

 At first I did not care to alter my former plan of 

 exploring the table-lands of the Annamully range, 



but after a consultation with B , it was resolved 



to follow Chineah's advice ; so, having donned our 

 hunting- gear, we dismissed our bearers, who returned 

 with the palanquins to Ooty, shouldered our rifles, 

 and struck off by a jungle-track leading along the base 

 of the hills. 



The heat was intense in the extreme, and we per- 

 haps felt it the more, having so lately left the vernal 

 freshness of the hills ; but signs of game were to be 

 seen on every side, which encouraged us to proceed, 



and after what B called " a moist tramp " 



of nearly four hours, we arrived at the dry bed of 

 a mountain torrent, which we followed for nearly 

 three miles through a narrow gorge between two 

 densely-wooded hills. During this part of our route 

 we were entirely sheltered from the oppressive beams 

 of the sun by overarching trees, which were so 

 densely covered with convolvuli, and similar delicate 

 climbers of every colour, as to form an impervious 

 shade overhead; indeed, it seemed as if we were 

 traversing a vast leafy bower. 



At last, after a good hour's clambering over huge 



