264 



PHYSICAL H I S T () li V OF MAN. 



rior; proceeding in the first place by water to Panwell. On the fol- 

 lowing day, I traversed the Concan, or the low country ; and in the 

 evening, I reached the foot of the mountains. 



On the 18th, I ascended the ghaut or mountain-slope, and en- 

 tered upon the extensive table-land whicli occupies the interior of 

 Southern India; and which is commonly called the Dekkan. Its ave- 

 rage elevation of about two thousand feet, is insufficient to produce 

 any striking change in the vegetable growth ; but I soon perceived 

 some difference in the climate. The nights were now colder, and the 

 days, perhaps hotter ; while the greater aridity, was shown by the ab- 

 sence of dews after leaving the low country. 



The surface generally, was found to be un wooded, and the far 

 greater proportion of it, uncultivated; neither were cattle seen 

 upon the hills ; but, at this season, the whole country was covered 

 with dried herbage, and wore the aspect of barrenness. I did not 

 remark any particular change in the habits of the people ; except that 

 the cultivation of rice had become rare; but I am informed, that the 

 inhabitants of the Dekkan and Concan do not much intermarry. 



An incident, may serve to illustrate the train of associations in the 

 mind of the people of India. Meeting on the road with a woman who 

 seemed to belong to the lower class of Hindoos, I inquired her caste 

 of my interpreter. He informed me, that she was a Christian ; not 

 Portuguese, but Mahrass. What, I asked, is she carrying under that 

 covering? He replied, "it contains a god." 



Stopping at Karli, I spent the remainder of the day at the largest 

 of the caves in that vicinity ; and on the following morning, I re- 

 sumed my journey. 



On the 20th, I reached Poona; where I remained some hours. 

 Muslims were said to be " common in this city ; but to have no tem- 

 ples beyond the towns of the coast;" a rule, which has exceptions fur- 

 ther in the interior, in the dominions of the Nizam. Poona, seemed 

 to be in a good measure the limit of Parsee influence; and thus 

 far, wealthy Parsees have established houses along the road, for the 

 gratuitous shelter of travellers. 



Cowries, were seen used for money at Poona ; the species being 

 Cyprea annulus. Hitherto, I had met with but a single camel, which 

 was laden with the baggage of a Bramin ; and camels were seen in 

 rare instances, further in the Interior. Pigs made their appearance 

 in the villages beyond Poona ; a small variety, uniformly black and 



