91 



sport to the imperial princes in their hunting parties from Deihi 

 and Agra. 



As the discovery of lions in Guzerat was perfectly novel, Sir 

 Charles indulged me with an extract from his itinerary, when, 

 in consequence of such an intimation, he went with a party of 

 Moguls and Persians to the forest of Durlee, about twenty miles 

 to the northward of Camba}', two months before our arrival. This 

 extract presents a very interesting scene; which I shall not clothe 

 in any other language than his own, as it is written with all the 

 zest and warmth of feeling, occasioned by immediate impressions, 

 which no correctness of style or studied expressions can give in a 

 subsequent recollection. 



Darke, 8th of March 1781. 



" Having killed some elks and antelopes, without 

 meeting with any tigers, we proceeded this morning to Coora, in 

 a wilder part of the country, where we were more likely to meet 

 with those animals. As we advanced into the wood in pursuit of 

 our game, we saw in one of its thickest glooms a number of large 

 dead serpents; some entirely devoured, except their skins; some 

 half eaten, and others apparently just killed; we also observed 

 the bones of various animals strewed thick all about this spot. On 

 expressing my surprise at this appearance, the country people 

 assured me it w r as a proof of our being very near the haunt of 

 these savage beasts; and mutual exhortations followed to be steady 

 and circumspect; in fact, in a few paces we discovered, in the soft 

 grass and moss, the almost perfect figures of several animals, of 

 various sizes, who had been reposing there; and the carnivorous 



