249 



Within a few yards of the pagodas runs a small river, remark- 

 able for the sweetness of its water. To the brink of this river a 

 number of tigers, hyenas, wild hogs, deer, and other creatures, 

 flock in the night from the neighbouring mountains to drink ; and 

 although the tigers frequent it every night, as we constantly ob- 

 served by their fresh tracks, the country people regard them with 

 no other fear than lest they should destroy their cattle; instances 

 of which are even rare in this lovely valley. Pigeons and doves 

 abound here, also partridges and snipes ; but the high grass pre- 

 vented our success with the latter ; the banian-trees are enlivened 

 by green-pigeons, squirrels, and monkeys. Reptiles of various de- 

 scriptions are found in abundance ; the most remarkable is a very 

 beautiful snake, which lies among the branches of the burr-tree, 

 where a monstrous species of spider spreads a strong and exten- 

 sive web from bough to bough, and fiercely attacks every thing 

 that touches it. 



The natives rear large herds of cattle, which they drive into 

 their houses every evening, and men, women, children, cows, and 

 buffaloes all sleep together. In our journey from the wells we put 

 up in a Mahratta village; and rather than expose ourselves to the 

 dew when we could get under cover, accepted an offer from the 

 patell of his house to sleep in; and a most uncomfortable night 

 we had. No sooner was the lamp out, after the whole village had 

 satisfied their curiosity in seeing us eat our supper, than we were 

 beset by a numerous army of hungry Bandicoote rats, almost as 

 large as sucking pigs, which kept a continual squeaking and fight- 

 ing the whole night, running over us with the greatest familiarity, 



VOL. IV. 2 K 



