﻿FROM CHUNARGHUR TO YERTN AGOODUM. 75 



under arms, with our baggage packed ; but nothing 

 occurred to dilturb us during the night. 



Feb. 17th. We proceeded this day to the village 

 of Dcrry. The foreft during the march was fo thick, 

 that it was neceflary to cut it, lo let the cattle pafs 

 through. We found, however, a clear fpot to en- 

 camp in near the village, which conhfted only of 

 about twenty poor huts, and, with the exception of 

 a blind old man, who was the firll of the Goand moun- 

 taineers I met with, was quite defolate. The inha- 

 bitants had all fled into the hills and wilds; having 

 firft thrown their property, confiding of a good deal 

 of dry grain, and fome cotton, into a ravine. I would 

 not allow any of my people to touch it, nor to go 

 into the village; havirjg fome hopes that the proprie- 

 tors might be induced to return. But in this expec- 

 tation I was difappointed ; for, with the exception of 

 two huge black bears, whofe uncouth dalliance upon 

 an adjoining rock might have forced a faiile from ihe^ 

 graveft countenance, I faw no living creature at thi« 

 place during the remainder of the day. 



Shalikram, who arrived about noon, brought iiiit 

 telligence, that Bulbudder Shaw was encamped at 

 Moory ; and that it was his intention to attack and 

 plunder fome villages on the enfuing night. Upon 

 interrogating him as to the nature of my next day'^ 

 journey, he informed me, that I fhould quit tlie ter- 

 ritory o^ xho. Singrowla Rajah, and enter upon Corair, 

 He advifed me to examine the gauts which divide the 

 two countries; for the mountains being very high, 

 and the afcent over them exceedini^ly difficult, he ap- 

 prehended they might prove impaflable f^r our cattle. 

 Upon urging him to give a more explicit account 

 of the paffes, I found that one would be eafier of af- 

 cent than the reft, although the road to it wasK more 

 fircuitous. Shalikra.m now requefled his difmiffal, 



and 



