8-1 



Journal of an Expedition [no. 3, new series, 



limbs ought by law to have been wearing chains. I think it was 

 rather to the annoyance of all present, that I made up my mind to 

 start on the trip; but promises of a liberal present to my guide, 

 and double pay to all the coolies who accompanied me, satisfied them 

 if it did not suit those so well who had nothing to gain by my ex- 

 pedition, and might lose a profitable trade if Malliatoor becomes a 

 thoroughfare. 



28th March. At 4 o'clock on the following morning, I set off 

 with Mr. Hamnett, the Civil Engineer's writer, who volunteered to 

 accompany me, a servant also mounted 6 or 7 people to look after 

 the horses, &c, the smuggler guide and 16 coolies carrying about 

 half a load each. Having crossed over the village, we followed up 

 the course of the river for about a quarter of , a mile, then entered 

 the jungle and travelled nearly due north. For the first two hours 

 we got on very slowly and lost some little time in consequence of 

 a peon having played us false about our torches ; a trifle that might 

 have made a great difference in the up-shot of one day's work, had 

 we found the journey as long as we expected ; for our guide had 

 given us to understand there were but few places where water 

 could be found ; and our moving after dark without lights was out 

 of the question. 



As I rode I kept a Memorandum of all the beds of streams we 

 passed ; such changes as took place in the growth of the jungle ; 

 the nature of the country we were passing through, and, as well as 

 I could, the general direction of the path we travelled. That memo. 

 I will place on record, in case any one who succeeds me in my of- 

 fice, should wish to follow up the examination of the hills. 



The jungle on this side is of large timber trees with a good deal 

 of underwood every where. In some places indeed it was so block- 

 ed up with the prickly head of the ground rattan that off the path- 

 way it was perfectly impenetrable. For the first nine miles there 

 was very little bamboo and no teak. 



The soil was black and moist, even at this, the driest season of 

 the year. 



We passed in this space four nullahs, three of which had water in 



