WILD BEAUTY OF NATUEE. 
283 
the first time on our journey^ bestrode a donkey, and a sad falling- 
off from my former turn-out it proved. Bridleless, I guided him 
with a bamboo stick, a present from the Neam Neam. On a stirrup- 
less saddle, with the customary shaking of the legs, an occasional 
shout, and, when they failed, a few sharp applications of the 
bamboo, I managed to keep pace with my wife^s spirited little 
horse. The first few miles, so well known to me during my morning 
rides, conducted us through neglected corn-fields and bush to a 
now dried-up water-course. The well-worn and now exposed gneis 
rock, and many detached stones, with occasional heaps of sand in 
nooks and corners, denoted the existence of a boisterous stream' 
in the rainy season. The bank on either side was studded with 
lofty trees, whose trunks were lost to view in impenetrable jungle, 
wherefrom pretty flowering shrubs and creepers extricate them- 
selves, to become conspicuous and lovely objects of the locality. 
More modest in appearance, but yielding not in beauty, is the path- 
way we traverse, far prettier than if planted by human hand : the 
dwarf convolvuli and a variety of other blue and red, to my com- 
panion, Dr. Murie, and myself, unknown flowers, line it in Nature^ s 
fascinating unstudied clusters, on either side. Beyond are a few 
hamlets, where in the shade of a tree we halted to breakfast. The 
natives supplied us willingly with water, and uttered many wishes 
for a safe journey and regrets for our leaving Neangara. Beyond, 
the undulating nature of the country, covered everywhere with 
bush, presented occasional views of picturesque landscape. Now 
and then a hamlet in a small cleared spot diversified the scenery ; 
but the principal object of interest, and attended with some anxiety, 
was a dense column of smoke, impelled by a strong easterly wind 
towards us, and extending at right angles to our line of march as 
far as the eye could see. The dried herbage was on fire, and the 
