april — jxjne 1857.] over the Annamullay Mountains. 89 



After a conversation with this man for some few minutes, we 

 moved again, and very shortly began a long and steep ascent call- 

 ed Kurridy Kutum (alias Bear bank). This occupied us an hour 

 and forty minutes, and was the highest hill we had met with. 

 On the top of this, we had the first clear view, and very beautiful 

 it was. We were on the edge of a spur, with a deep and narrow 

 ravine on the left, and on our right there was a wide gorge with 

 bold hills on either side, and a low but broad and picturesque 

 water-fall lighted up the dark and otherwise unbroken forest. 



From the end of this spur we descended by a path almost as 

 steep as could be climbed about as many feet, as we ascended by 

 Kurridy Kutum. At the foot of this we found a fine river, with 

 a large and deep pool of the most brilliantly clear water. This 

 river is known to the smugglers by the name of the Oracumbum, 

 and it is evidently one of the main branches of the Coadacherry 

 river. 



Here we were to halt for the night, and if it were not that no 

 one in these jungles can feel sure that he is not breathing poison, 

 a traveller could not wish a more delightful resting place. I be- 

 lieve in most cases it is advisable to drink as little as possible of the 

 water that is found in these very dense jungles, but this was too 

 tempting and too delicious to be resisted, and if we were incautious 

 in swallowing a large quantity of this beautiful stream, I made up 

 for it in some degree by giving a pinch of quinine to every one of 

 the party and taking the same myself. 



Nothing could be more suitable for a bivouac than the spot we 

 had chosen, a bed of high reeds grew along the river's bank, af- 

 fording shelter from the wind which blew up the stream most 

 agreeably for the evening meal ; but rather too chilly for comfort 

 or safety in the heavy dew of night. I had a cot with me which 

 I Sir Humphry Davyed by musquito curtains ; and as some luxu- 

 rious smuggler had made himself a bower by tying the head of the 

 tall reeds together, I borrowed his lodging for the night and had 

 the snuggest lair imaginable. 



There was very little conversation going on after the sun set, or 



