476 Lieut. Kittoe's Journey through the Forests of Orissa. [June, 



courses or aqueducts passing through every street and garden, the 

 water being conducted from the famous cataracts which is in the hill 

 just above the town ; the fields for several miles are irrigated from these 

 falls. I was too much fatigued on my arrival to look about me, added 

 to which it was late in the day. 



Although the apparent comfort of a tolerable good tent was thus 

 provided, I had more reason for anger than pleasure, for I had sent on 

 part of my guard and the Political Agent's Muktar (an Ooriya) — who 

 had been so officious in attempting to prevent my coming by this route — 

 to have a bower prepared in some shady spot, distant at least two miles 

 from hence, and had given most positive orders on this head ; for in the 

 first place, I wished to avoid an interview with the Raja, travelling in 

 the uncomfortable manner I was forced to do ; secondly, I wished to 

 put it out of the power of my followers to extort money, " Salami" 

 from him, a regular practice with native servants of political establish- 

 ments, particularly with the worthies of Cuttack, two of whom accom- 

 panied me* on the present occasion. This kind of systematic plunder 

 is perhaps one of the chief causes of aversion the inhabitants have 

 to our making a thoroughfare in their different states. 



I suffered more from the heat this, than on any of the previous days 

 of my journey, but towards 3 p. m. a severe north-wester came on, 

 followed by a heavy shower of rain, which cooled the atmosphere for 

 the time being, but the steam from the wetted ground rendered the 

 jjeat at night nearly suffocating. 



The Raja paid me a visit at 5 p. m. he is a fine handsome lad, of 

 about eighteen years of age, but rather effeminate ; he does not appear 

 to be very wise. He expressed great anxiety about the new road, and 

 begged I would not bring it through Deogurh, as there were (of course) 

 other much better paths, but that if I did do so, that Lehragurh and 



* When I went on my tour to the Coal Mines of Talcher last year, I was informed, on 

 credible authority, that a Chuprassie of the Commissioner's establishment who accom- 

 panied me, had declared that the trip was worth fifty Rupees to him, and that he 

 wagered that he would not make less before he returned to Cuttack. This man subse- 

 quently gave me much trouble by his unceasing attempts to lead me by a round-about 

 route through Dhenkennalgurh, Hindolegurh, Ungoolgurh, that he might secure the 

 usual nuzzers which the Raja's offer on paying their first visit ; and when he found that 

 I was not to be led, he prevailed upon me to allow him to go to Dhenkennal with the 

 Commissioner's Purwanah, assuring me that unless he did so I should get no supplies or 

 aid; he again attempted the same trick in Ungool, but I prevented him, and suffered no 

 small inconvenience in consequence ; yet this man was the most active and best in- 

 formed person on the establishment. 



