272 



sionally seen ; peacocks, doves, and squirrels, unaccustomed to mo- 

 lestation, approached our tents with familiarity; while monkeys in 

 great number diverted us with their playfulness, and cunnino- 

 devices to purloin the bottled-bcer, fruit, or any delicacy that 

 suited their taste. The gentleman who shot the female monkey 

 formerly mentioned, was generally on these parties; they were from 

 that time a privileged race with him and his friends. The Chinese 

 are said to eat monkeys; but I never heard of any caste, tribe, or 

 individual in Hindostan using them for food; not even the 

 Pariahs and Chandalas, who eat carrion, and offal of every de- 

 scription. 



The surrounding districts were nearly as wild and uncultivated 

 asTurcaseer: the wildness increased as we approached the Raje- 

 pipley hills, and there every trace of agriculture and population 

 ceased. The only human inhabitants are a set of cruel robbers 

 called Bheels, more barbarous than the beasts among whom 

 they dwell. 



The serpents, reptiles and insects in these wilds were varied 

 and beautiful, particularly some of the cicadas and locusts; that 

 called the creeping leaf was to be seen in great variety; they are 

 not easily distinguished from the plants on which they feed. Gu- 

 anas, cameleons, and lizards of every description; some of the 

 latter, basking in the sun, appeared in alternate stripes of blue and 

 gold; and a large kind of locust was arrayed in the same splen- 

 did hues. 



Many of these insects, when separately viewed, are extremely 

 curious, and very pleasing; but, considered collectively, as instru- 

 ments of divine vengeance, and destroyers of a country, they ap- 



