s NATURALIST IN INDIA. 9 



bade farewell to our kind host, and left in his canoe, loaded 

 with fruit and sugar-cane. 



Turtles are plentiful, but the particular species I could not 

 determine. The frigate, or man-of-war bird (Tachypetes), was 

 often seen soaring at great heights. Its deeply-forked tail 

 and aquiline flight are distinctive. 



After passing the Line we were becalmed for several days, 

 during which there was not a ruffle on the wide expanse, and 

 our vessel lay like unto "a painted ship upon a painted 

 ocean." 



Every one was tired out by the monotony of a long voyage ; 

 and irrespective of that, and the failure of the winds, the heat 

 was great, and seldom under 86° and 90° in our cabins. At 

 length uncertain breezes came and went, and after days of 

 suffocating heat and much discomfort we cast anchor in 

 Bombay harbour on the 18th May, when the troops were 

 disembarked into small boats, and sailed for PanweU, on 

 the coast. 



The weather was intensely hot at the" time : in conse- 

 quence we were obliged always to march at night, so as to 

 arrive in camp before the burning sun of the Deccan made its 

 appearance. \. 



A hurried visit was paid to the celebrated Caves of Carlee, 

 and we admired their wonderful galleries and colossal ele- 

 phants, dug out of solid trap ; but there was no time to exa- 

 mine anything minutely, for the short-lived evenings of these 

 latitudes afford but scanty opportunities for a passing traveller 

 to feast his fancy. 



Soon after our arrival at Poonah we were joined by the 

 other detachments of the regiment, which had arrived at 

 Bombay after us ; and then, once fairly settled down to habits 

 of Eastern life, I found that even active or onerous profes- 



