70 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTKAL INDIA 



is typical of vast tracts in the jungles of Central India, 

 is sadly disappointing to Mm who looks for the luxuriant 

 tropical forest of low-lying equatorial regions. Forests 

 like those of Southern Africa and the littoral countries 

 of Asia, with their close array of giant trunks, dense 



CAMP AT PUCHMUREEE. BUDDHIST CAVES IN THE BACKGEOUND. 



canopy of vegetation, impenetrable underwood, gorgeous 

 flowers, and mighty tangled creepers — 



From branch to branch close wreaths of bondage throwing, 



are unknown in these central regions of India; and 

 their character is rarely approached save in some occa- 

 sional low moist valley, where the axe of the woodcutter 

 has not penetrated, and the stagnation of some stream 

 has united with the heat of a close valley in giving to 

 the vegetation a more truly tropical character. Indeed, 

 but for the preponderance of yellows where rich reds and 



