PANDUA HILLS, NEAR SILHET, IN BENGAL 503 



the roasted child also, were he not too hot for them. The people 

 looked on with the most perfect indifference — the father, a stupid looking 

 brute, stood chewing his pawn. In the evening, in strolling through the 

 village, to the west end, I had a fine view of the great waterfall which 

 runs over the table ledge of the mountain, and forms an upper and lower 

 fall of altogether not less than one thousand five hundred feet. By 

 going up a very steep ascent, and winding through the upper Punji or 

 village, the bottom of the fall was approached, so that I got wet with the 

 spray. Across this torrent, they told me, is the road to Cherra-Punji ; 

 but it is evident that it is impossible loaded coolies can cross it; indeed 

 it would be difficult for any one to do so. It is a noble fall, and well 

 worth coming out of the way to see. I learnt moreover, that further on 

 ravines are crossed by monkey bridges, formed of two or three bambus 

 tied together ; so that in fact I had come the wrong road, and had to retrace 

 my steps to the landing place before mentioned, notwithstanding what 

 the Castas said to the contrary. Information was brought me in the 

 evening, which led me to think the Supar -Punji people had some design 

 in bringing me to their village instead of taking me the usual road, and 

 I thought it possible, as I was completely in their power, inside their 

 stockades, that I might have some trouble in making my escape. 

 « 



28th. Rose by moonlight this morning, and without disturbing the 

 people, quitted the village. Accompanied by two servants, I soon found 

 my way to the bottom of the valley, and ascending the hill on the opposite 

 side, reached the landing place before mentioned, in time to see the sun 

 rise in all its majesty. At seven a. m. reached the great stone, or rather 

 rock, at the foot of the " Mahadeo Id Cherti," which commands a 

 glorious view of the valley and plain below. After resting, proceeded 

 to climb the ascent, almost perpendicular, and at eight reached the first 

 stone door at the top of the hill, the great stone door at twenty minutes 

 to nine, and the village of Masmac at nine a. m. The scenery from 



