374 Lieut Kittoe's Journey through the Forests of Orissa. [May, 



ceedingly still and deep, it being confined between a line of rocks 

 the strata of which incline at an angle of 45° and have a most sin- 

 gular appearance. The village is chiefly inhabited by fishermen, as 

 its name implies, " Keunta" or " Kewat" meaning " fisherman," and 

 " pulli" a " village," anglice, the " fisherman's hamlet." The Keunts 

 of this place appear to be a very idle race, they angle all day and cast 

 nets and spear fish at night. This latter operation is performed by 

 the following means — one or more torches are burnt at the stem of a 

 canoe, where a man stands waiting with spear or grange in hand, the 

 canoe is either pushed or paddled along with the least possible noise 

 by a boy at the stern, the fish are attracted by the glare of the torches, 

 swim about near the surface, and become an easy prey to the expert, 

 ness with which the grange is handled. 



During those months in which the river is navigable, the Keunts 

 have ample employment in transporting merchandize to and from 

 Sumbulpur, Kontillu, and Cuttack. 



There is nothing remarkable in the appearance of the country about 

 Keuntapulli ; on the right bank there is much low jungle and a few 

 small hills at some distance ; on the left, the range of hills before men- 

 tioned are about a mile distant, the land intervening having a gradual 

 slope towards the river; there is much more jungle than cultivation, 

 for there are numerous water-courses and ravines intersecting it. 



I resumed my march an hour before sunset, and reached Dhama 

 about 9 p. m. I did not stop, having met a relay of bearers who had 

 been sent out from Sumbulpur, which place I reached at 3 a. m. the 

 next morning, the 4th May, none the better for such constant fatigue 

 and severe exposure, however I considered myself fortunate in having 

 done so well. 



I remained at Sumbulpur until the 23rd of the month, for I was 

 unable to carry on the survey in consequence of the sickly state of the 

 establishment, every follower of the late Capt. Abbott having suffered 

 more or less from the deadly climate of Keunjur ; his Bengallee writer, 

 a sepahee, and another servant, died, shortly after their arrival at Sum- 

 bulpur ; there were several others in a dangerous state who subse- 

 quently died on their way home. From this I learnt a lesson for 

 my future guidance, not to employ more Up-country servants than 

 could possibly be avoided; it is absolutely necessary to have a few 

 trustworthy men to serve as a check upon the Ooreya portion, who, if 

 not closely looked after, would lend themselves to the roguery and 

 schemes of their kindred. 



The town Sumbulpur is thrice the size of any I have seen in any of 

 the other states ; it extends for upwards of two miles along the proper 



