64 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
CHAPTER VI. 
FALL OF GUNGAVAPETTAH. — WILD ELEPHANTS. 
Upon leaving Puppanassuni, we proceeded to the 
northward., and halted at a small town about fifteen 
miles on the road towards Dindigufi where there are 
some falls which we were anxious to see. As we ap- 
proached the chief object of our curiosity,, the jungle 
through which we had to pass became extremely 
difficult to traverse^ the vegetation being so luxuriant 
that at times we could scarcely penetrate it. It was 
moreover so infested with tigers and wild elephants; 
that we considered it prudent to obtain a guard 
of sepoys from the British resident; who was kind 
enough to add to our escort a number of peons; armed 
with long spears. Though we had considerable con- 
fidence under so strong a convoy; we nevertheless 
could not but occasionally feel a few disquieting ap- 
prehensions as we every now and then heard the 
distant yell of the tiger; or the crackling of the bushes 
under the heavy tramp of the elephants; which in- 
variably retreated upon our approach. For the last 
three miles before we reached the cataracts; the jungle 
was so thick that we were frequently obliged to get 
out of our palankeens and make our way through it; 
forcing back the matted undergrowth with our hands; 
