1839.] Lieut. Kittoes Journey through the Forests of Orissa. 383 



The country through which I travelled this day is open, with evident 

 traces of having been in a much more prosperous condition at no distant 

 period. There are extensive pasture lands, and large herds are brought 

 from long distances to graze, the herdsmen living in temporary huts, and 

 having enclosures annexed to protect the cattle from wild beasts. I ob- 

 served many traces of recent cultivation, and occasionally fields freshly 

 ploughed, although I could not discover a single village the whole way, 

 I was also assured that there were none ; I am, however, convinced that 

 there are many at no very great distance, hidden by the intervening 

 jungle, beyond which I could see clumps of mangoes, tamarind, date, and 

 tarri trees, which latter seldom occur except in the vicinity of habita- 

 tions. I felt moreover convinced that there must be other roads up this 

 fine table land than that by which I came. On inquiring of the Baumur- 

 ra people, and of some bunjarahs I had met on my way, I found that my 

 surmises were correct, not only in this particular, but as to the Baghloth 

 ghat, which, as I have before stated, had been kept a secret from me. I 

 determined to satisfy myself of these points by directing the guard of re- 

 gular sepahees to return by the other path and by the ghat ; I sent them 

 the next day from Deogurh, and I subsequently received a report from 

 the Naick of the guard who stated that he had passed through many 

 villages with abundance of water, and that the ghat was perfectly easy, 

 with an excellent path ; the very reverse of what the knaves of guides 

 had told me. There is no habitation any where near Burghat, which 

 is merely a pass (as the name implies*) leading from the high land 

 before described, down to the less elevated tracts of Baumurra, all in- 

 clining towards the Brahmeni river, into which all the torrents (that 

 of Burghat among the rest) empty themselves. 



My people were too much fatigued to allow of my resuming my 

 march that evening, so we lighted numerous bonfires round the camp 

 to keep off wild beasts, and passed the night where we were. 



(To be continued.) 



* " Ghat" or " Ghatti" means a pass, they are affixed to proper names, such as 

 " Kend -ghatti" the Kend (or ebony tree) pass; "Sher-ghatti" the Tiger pass; "Kus- 

 sum-ghat" the Kussum (tree) pass ; " Burghat" the Bur (tree) pass, &c. &c. 



