MEAH GUNGE. 
our day 's journey ; in this we were fortunate, a§ heavy storms after- 
wards passed over us almost every hour. Our last night's tents 
passed us about three o'clock, and proceeded to the next station. 
We dined about four o'clock, and afterwards rode till dark. We 
took our way through the village of Lootnee, (Anglice, of Thieves,) 
a name which the inhabitants very well deserve ; for in the night 
they contrived to steal into the tents of several of the officers be- 
longing to a battalion that preceded us, and took from one his desk, 
and every article of clothing, to the amount of at least one thousand 
rupees; a very serious loss to a subaltern. The thief did this in 
defiance of the sentry, by crawling close to the back of the tent, and 
cutting a hole in the side sufficiently large to admit him. The night 
was fine, and I slept till awoke by the drum. 
July 2,8. — By five we were on our elephants, and by eight reached 
Meah Gunge, distant nearly six coss. About half way we were met 
by a hircarrah of Almas, saying that he had orders to provide us 
with every thing which we wanted and I chose to order. He returned 
to give notice of my approach. In the middle of the town I was met 
by a nephew of Almas, who presented me a nazur of two rupees, 
five kids, a panier of fowls, some eggs, and plenty of firewood. All 
these were sent to our camp, with milk and kedjeree pots. His 
people refused to receive any thing, saying they had positive orders 
to the contrary, and that they should be severely punished if they 
were known to disobey. Not a drop of rain fell during our ride. 
Meah Gunge is the capital of Almas's district, and was built by 
himself: the outer wall is of mud, and incloses several large mango 
topes, and spots of cultivated ground ; the inner wall is brick, not 
very high, with towers of the same at small distances. There are 
