8 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
valleys with a din and turbulence peculiar to mountain 
torrents. 
The gate of the village was guarded by a small de- 
tachment of the Rajah’s troops, and on passing under 
its low arch we entered the territory of Serinagur. 
This village is quite deserted during the rainy season, 
when the ghaut is rendered altogether impassable and 
becomes the abode of tigers, leopards, bears, hyenas, 
and other beasts of prey, which retire into the jungles 
as soon as clearer skies and a more genial temperature 
invite the return of man. Here the vakeel/' 5 ' sent by 
the Rajah, procured for us the necessary number of 
diggeries and sillenies — the former to bear our pa- 
lankeens, the latter to carry our baggage ; he was ex- 
ceedingly civil and showed every disposition to di- 
minish the difficulties which invariably arise to im- 
pede the progress of the mountain traveller. In these 
mountains especially there is generally a reluctance in 
the natives to contribute to the accommodation of a 
stranger, and it is no easy matter, at any time, to 
obtain porters to transport his baggage. They are for 
the most part a very indolent race, although accus- 
tomed to encounter the severities of want and to un- 
dergo occasionally the most difficult and arduous 
labours. 
The palankeen used in these hills is of a pe- 
culiar construction and admirably adapted to the 
asperities of the region. In the precipitous ascents 
which here continually occur, the path frequently 
winds round angles so abrupt and acute, that it would 
The vakeel is literally an ambassador. 
