Journal of an Expedition [no. 3, ^^Ew series, 
Pilgrims. I could not ascertain what had gained for the little 
hill the respect that it received; and could only guess that in 
their adoration of the type for the reality, the rubhish and confu- 
sion of the place might be considered typical of the Cochin Chris- 
tians' creed. No one lives upon this hill, but the Chapel has a 
weekly visit from the Priests at Malliattor : who at other times 
leave the Chapel to the care of a converted herd of Ibex : which 
graze on the steep hill-side, and shelter in the sheds and out- 
houses. 
I saw fifteen of these very ugly goats about the ^vnoU, all males, 
which was remarkable, and I should have entered them in this my 
diary, as having instinctively monastic habits, had I not been told, 
that there were many more in number of the other sex just out of 
sight amongst the bushes, which silenced the suggestion. 
These civilized members of a forest family have not lost all 
the habits of their race in general. They saunter with com- 
posure on edges as sharp as knives, and stand with all four 
feet upon a single point of rock. Nor are they in character less 
wary than the Ibex tribe in general. Their cunning teaches 
them that they are safer in the sanctuary of the Church, than on 
their wonted haunts, the precipice ; and having taken up their 
abode upon the sacred hill, they bask in perfect safety, as if aware 
that it was consecrated. In one of the Chapel offices, a black 
buck was lounging on a bedstead, who knew his place better than 
to take any notice of the Heretic intruder, and such was evidently 
the feeling of the herd in general. This seems to speak of good 
intelligence, yet judging by the head and face, the Ibex is a 
sheepish jackass. Dull as these animals appear, they are said to 
have all the cleverness of Priests, and when any thing goes wrong 
on the hill, one of the old bucks goes down immediately to report 
it in Malliatoor. Only a few days ago, one of these vigilant bergers 
is said to h^.ve taken the three mile walk, to ask a man in the 
village when he meant to pay that silver elephant he had promised 
to the Church if the pitfalls he was digging should prove success- 
ful. An elephant having been taken, and the vow forgotten. 
28th March. A guide has arrived who gives the following 
