1839.] Lieut Kittoe's Journey through the Forests of Orissa. 475 



six miles the path is very circuitous, winding round the bases of several 

 hills, there are many water courses, and the number of loose stones of 

 all sizes strewed about, render it very painful to travel over. The Saul 

 forest is very dense, and there are some very fine timbers, it continues 

 so for five and a half miles. Our course thus far had upon the whole been 

 north-easterly, we here turned to the southward, in which direction we 

 continued for a short distance, and crossed a shallow running stream 

 called Jurritoora, flowing to the right ; we then came upon an open spot 

 in the centre of a beautiful plain, with fine mango topes around it; this 

 is a Bunjara halting place; there was formerly a small hamlet close 

 by, but during the disturbances between the Raja and the Sumbulpur 

 people, some years ago, it was destroyed. Half a mile further forward the 

 same rivulet is recrossed, the road then turns to the eastward, and 

 together with the stream passes through an exceedingly narrow defile, 

 called Juraikilla, into the valley of Deogurh ; the hills are exceedingly 

 high on either side, those to the left (or north) have faces nearly per- 

 pendicular. There are the remains of a stone wall and of a stockade, 

 by means of which the Deogurh people are said to have often success- 

 fully defended themselves against their invading enemies. 



On passing the defile the valley appears in all its beauty, extending 

 west to east as far as the eye can reach, widening with a perceptible 

 fall in that direction which is towards the valley of the Brahmeni 

 river, into which the Jurritoora rivulet empties itself, after winding 

 along the valley at the foot of the hills skirting its southern boundary. 

 The view from the pass, looking east, is exceedingly beautiful, indeed 

 nothing could be more grand. About two miles in advance, I came to a 

 large village called Kainsur, between which and the pass I had thrice to 

 cross a large nullah and several smaller water-courses, over all of which 

 it would be necessary to have bridges. After resting a little, I conti- 

 nued my journey, and passing several large villages, including old 

 Deogurh, reached the modern town of that name, distant 13^ miles 

 from last ground. I found a large red and white tent ready pitched for 

 me by the Raja's orders, and an abundance of supplies had been collect- 

 ed ; this civility was quite unexpected, but there was probably a reason 

 for it. 



Deogurh is a large straggling village, distant one mile from the hills 

 on the northern side of the valley, which may here be about two and 

 a half miles wide. The Raja's Noor, or palace, together with some 

 small temples are the only pucca buildings ; there are small water- 



