THE NULL A.MULL AYS. 



higher and higher, through small belts of thick jungle, and 

 along plateau terraces of more open country covered with 

 long dry grass. The outlines of the ridges were also be- 

 coming so much more indefinite as to shape and distance 

 in the moonlight, that we soon lost most of our confidence 

 in these as guides, and began to be almost as despairing of 

 reaching any camp before next day as our men, one or two 

 of whom began to Want to sit down, or say they had got 

 fever. 



However, there was no good in going back, as we had now 

 proceeded some six miles ; so on we went, keeping the 

 men well in front to prevent their lagging behind or sitting 

 down, and getting higher and higher into an atmosphere that 

 was quite fresh in its coldness, until at last we turned up a 

 valley which seemed to be in the right direction. This led 

 us eventually up to a high saddle on the main ridge ; and 

 about 10 1 P, M.j our shouts Were at last answered, when 

 we emerged from the forest on an old camping ground with 

 deserted huts,* where our people had pitched the tent. 



This camping place was about 2,250 feet above the sea, 

 among thickish jungle, and there was a poor spring of 

 slightly milky-colored water in the bed of the little ravine 

 close by. 



The Mantyconda Forest basin.. 



Our march, next day, to Mantyconda and the Brumeshwar 

 valley showed that the above watering place, which, as far 

 as I can make out, must have been about eight miles east- 

 south-east of Mantyconda, lies on the eastern edge of a great 

 forest basin extending up to that hill. This is the area of 

 best forest land on the mountains ; and it may be consider- 

 ed roughly as limited on the north by the Yellagode and 

 Brumeshwar wartershed, while to the east it gradually thins 

 down into the valley leading out to Nundial, thus giving 

 at least a hundred square miles of good forest. 



* £aid to be huts of WudderSj or of people who work in the forests* 



