cf the Old World. 395 



by some one, as I thought, unceremoniously shaking 

 me by the shoulder ; but the visitor proved to be a 

 half-famished prowling jackal, who was trying to drag 

 away the buffalo-robe which served as an outer cover- 

 ing. I scared him away by shouting, and he vented 

 his indignation by setting up a melancholy howl, 

 which started a most infernal chorus from half-a-dozen 

 packs in the neighbouring woods; but, being well 

 accustomed to such " jungle melody," I turned over, 

 and once more composed myself to sleep. 



When I awoke the next morning, I found my 

 followers busily employed in rubbing down the horses, 

 and the whole of the male portion of the tribe, with 

 the exception of a few left to guard the village, pre- 

 paring for the field. I gave myself a shake like a 

 spaniel, and washed out my mouth (the ordinary 

 toilet of a hunter of the deep jungle, who generally 

 performs his ablutions in the first stream he comes to), 

 and, after hastily swallowing a cup of coffee and a 

 biscuit, I mounted my horse, and hastened the 

 departure of the party, which consisted of about forty 

 individuals, most of them mounted on rough moun- 

 tain-ponies, and armed with matchlocks, pistols, 

 attaghans, &c. 



The track lay through a gorge in the mountains, 

 and, when day broke, presented a magnificent scene, 

 as the sun dispelled the fog and mists which seemed 

 to cling to the gigantic masses of rock piled on each 



