CURRUP 
451 
showed me the lofty mountain I had been descending, covered with 
forest to nearly its summit. We had passed several rivulets ; here 
they had joined and formed a small stream. On Mr. Salt's joining me 
at Mangalore, who for want of bearers had been obliged to keep one 
stage in the rear, I was happy to find that this scene had so struck 
him from its magnificence, that he had taken a drawing of it. 
I was now able to perceive the rich vegetation around me, and 
which immediately struck me with surprise, from its resemblance 
to that of Ceylon. The branches of the loftiest trees were covered by 
the parasitical tribe ; the Epidendrons and Filices were various and 
beautiful; but the most conspicuous was the Dracontium pertusum, 
which perfectly covered the gigantic stem of the Ficus bengalensis 
with its leaves. The Laurus cassia was amongst the underwood ; and 
the side of the road was beautified by several species ofJusticia. 
I frequently stopped to wander a little from the road to collect seeds, 
in which I was very successful. I passed a small village in the centre 
of this immense forest, where the inhabitants were threshing their 
grain in a truly patriarchal manner ; on a floor of hard earth the 
grain was trodden by oxen, which, according to the Mosaical law, 
were left unmuzzled. 
About eight I got to a small building which had been erected for 
my use, and was shaded by leaves of the cocoa-nut tree : it was only 
four coss from the last stage. Near my resting-place was a small 
pagoda, the Brahmins of which came to pay their compliments, and 
presented a nazur of fruit, milk, and some very tolerable sweet- 
meats; in return for which I made a small present to the deity. 
I waited here an hour atnd a half to rest my bearers, and to break- 
fast. As we advanced we left the close forest behind us, and had 
