THE HIGHEE NAEBADl 265 



lie shorter sections of rugged ground, where tlie Mils on 

 either side converge, and through which the river tumbles 

 in a less placid course, short pools being connected by 

 long broken rapids. A little wa-y above Jubbulpiir, the 

 last of these basins is terminated by the again converging 

 hills, and from this point up to the little civil station of 

 Mandla the river flows through a narrow valley, very 

 scantily cultivated here and there, and generally covered 

 along the riverside by bamboos, and on the hills by a 

 low jungle composed of the commoner sort of trees. Many 

 little tributary streams joined the river in this part of its 

 course. These ran up into the partially cultivated uplands 

 on either side of the valley ; and in the cold season, when 

 they contained water and green vegetation, afforded 

 cover to great numbers of wild animals of all sorts. When 

 the hot season advanced their waters gradually dried 

 up, and then the game all moved down into the Narbada 

 vaUey, congregating at that time, when the great mutiny 

 had for some years prevented their molestation, in very 

 great numbers. 



I have marched up this valley, on my way to explore 

 the Sal forests in the eastern part of the province. But 

 want of time then prevented my lingering to shoot. 

 The year before joining the Forest Department, however, 

 I had made an excursion up this valley during the hot 

 season; and while cantoned at Jubbulpiir, made many 

 excursions through the hilly regions surrounding the 

 valley. Several sorts of game which have not yet been 

 much mentioned were then met with in great abundance ; 

 and before taking my readers towards the Sal forests 

 I will devote a little space to these excursions. 



I was then a good deal of a " griffin," and was obliged 

 to rely much on the assistance of native shikaris in finding 

 game. The chief of these about Jubbulpiir was an arch- 

 villain who haunted the purlieus of the cantonment 

 messes, and hawked about his news of panthers, bears, 

 deer, etc., to the highest bidder. I don't think I ever 

 heard his name. He was always called " Bamanjee," 

 or the " Brahman," for such was his caste. He knew 

 intimately every inch of the jungle for twenty miles 



