132 Journal of a Tour [March, 



15th — Wetup, about eight miles west; road good, and similar 

 to that throughout all parts of the Kubo valley. Just after starting 

 I was joined by my suwaree elephant, the mahout still trembling 

 from the effects of a fright he had received about three hours before. 

 His story was, that being tired with riding, he had dismounted to recre- 

 ate himself with a walk, having put his coolie to supply his place on the 

 elephant ; he had got about twenty paces ahead, and was jogging along 

 merrily, when he heard a rustling in a thick bush on the road side : 

 thinking it caused by a deer, his curiosity led him to take a peep, and 

 pushing aside some of the branches, a deer was there sure enough, but 

 it was a dead one, and also a live tiger, which he was not prepared to 

 expect ; the latter on being disturbed at his meal, gave a growl and 

 raised his phiz to within a few inches of that of the terrified mahout, 

 who retreated as fast as his fright would permit to the elephant, and 

 took up a position on its tusks. The coolie also saw the tiger, and 

 was in an equal fright with the mahout. The parties remained recon- 

 noitring each other for about five minutes, when some sepoys and Kubos 

 coming up, the tiger retreated, casting many an anxious look towards 

 the bush which contained the remains of the deer, which were seized 

 on as a good prize by the Kubos. The deer could only have been kill- 

 ed a few hours, as it was perfectly fresh and still warm. The tiger had 

 made a breakfast on one hind-quarter and part of the other ; a tolera- 

 ble lunch, however, as the deer was a very large one of the species call- 

 ed in Hindustan " Bara Singhi." 



16th — Num-muldah nala ; this road, having already been frequently 

 reported on by Lieut. Pemberton, renders it unnecessary for me to say 

 any thing about it. 



17th — Pausa ditto; ditto ditto. A village has been established 

 here, since visited by Lieut. Pemberton, of six families, or about 

 forty inhabitants. Just previous to my arrival, a poor Naga had been 

 frightened entirely out of its wits, and half out of his life, by a tiger ; 

 he was on his way from the hills to the village, close to which he had 

 arrived, when he was surprized by a smart slap from behind on his most 

 prominent and fleshy part, and at the same time a basket which he was 

 carrying pulled from him. On turning round to see who it was that 

 was taking such liberties, he saw a tiger walking off with the basket ; 

 he did not stop to reclaim it, but made the best speed he could to the 

 village, bearing marks of the truth of his story on the part before men- 

 tioned. The head-man of the village told me, with a very serious face, 

 that he was fearful the " Laee" was displeased in consequence of 

 some omission of the proper respect and attention due him, and took 

 this means of showing it : but he hoped to be able to appease him by 



