Chap. XLIV. THE TU'BURI NOT ATTACKED. 201 
east, and crossing the shallow watercourse, which 
stretched from north to south a little below our halt- 
ing-place, the place where we crossed it being quite 
dry and full of holes caused by the footsteps of the 
elephant. The wilderness for a while was clearer ; but 
after a march of about two miles we reached a very 
thick covert, where it was found necessary to send out 
scouts, in order to see if the enemy was lying in am- 
bush. It is a great pity that these poor natives do 
not know how to avail themselves, against their cruel 
and cowardly enemies, of the fastnesses with which 
nature has endowed these regions. Of course, these 
immense forests, which separate one principality, 
and I might say one village, from another, are them- 
selves a consequence of the want of intelligence and 
of the barbarous blindness of these pagan tribes, who, 
destitute of any common bond of national unity, live 
entirely separated from, and even carry on war 
against each other. 
Scarcely had we made ourselves a path through the 
thicket, when we reached another meadow-water, 
which at present, however, looked rather like a 
bog, and offered some difficulties to the passage of 
the horses. Having then for some time kept upon 
dry ground, about noon we had to cross another 
swamp ; but beyond this the country became open. 
Having now reached the place of our destination, 
the banners were unfolded, the drums beaten, and the 
greater part of the cavalry hurried on in advance ready 
for fighting, or rather for pillage, for no enemy was 
