INDIA SCENERY. 189 



inhabitants had a brigandish, treacherous look, which 

 caused us to pass a sleepless night, and to hurry away at 

 dawn. This town could be made almost impregnable. 



Descending the mountain, we held our course north- 

 westerly for Sudjun, a town situated upon the coast. The 

 country presented the contrast of open sandy plains and 

 dark-green forests of bamboo, that tree seeming to be uni- 

 versal in this region. But there was a gradual descent to 

 the coast, and our road was easy ; and after a day's mo- 

 notonous ride, we came in sight of the sea near Sudjun. 

 The town was composed almost entirely of the clay and 

 bamboo huts, so common in this part of India. Here we 

 enjoyed a view of one of the most gorgeous sunsets I had 

 ever beheld. Mr. Barrill and I were sitting at the door 

 of the largest bamboo house in the town, which was situ- 

 ated about three hundred yards from the beach. The 

 evening was rather cloudy ; and the sun which had blazed 

 all day with almost intolerable radiance, was now shorn 

 of his beams, and his fiery orb seemed about to be quenched 

 for ever by the gale-driven clouds ; but he struggled ma- 

 jestically among them, and flashes of his glory occasionally 

 scattered the gloomy assailants. Slowly, he sank in the 

 waves, flinging to the very beach a column of light, and 

 as his golden head disappeared, the clouds were struck 

 into bars by his farewell beam. 



The night was raw and windy, and we were glad to re- 



