228 KILL AN ICHNEUMON. 



The inhabitants, numbering about ten thousand, are Hin- 

 doos, Mohammedans and Parsees. We found that the 

 manufactures of the town were various and valuable, but 

 the . trade was unimportant. The surrounding country 

 was fertile and well-cultivated. 



At Cambay we remained two days, when the oppressive 

 character of the climate determined us to proceed north- 

 ward. On the morning of the third day after our arrival, we 

 started, and were glad to find ourselves once more among 

 the fresh fields and woods. Our route led us along the 

 shallow Sabermatty. The adjacent country was gene- 

 rally fertile and thickly settled for several miles up the 

 river above Cambay. Beyond this, however, we found 

 ourselves in jungle land. Here we first had an opportu- 

 nity to kill and examine the singular little animal called 

 mangoust, or ichneumon. The one we shot was eighteen 

 inches in length, without the tail. The snout was long, 

 the limbs short, and the tail slender. Its motions were 

 as quick as lightning, so that it was with great difficulty 

 that I obtained a good shot. These animals are very 

 useful in hot countries, where they destroy venomous 

 snakes, lizards, and crocodile's eggs. They generally seek 

 their prey by night, creeping along without noise, and 

 darting upon the unsuspecting reptile with unerring aim. 

 This curious animal was skinned to supply us with a new 

 trophy. 



