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leaves and branches bearing a much greater resemblance to the 
suparee, or betel-nut tree. 
As these hills approach the Deccan mountains, the scenery 
assumes a sublime aspect: the landscape is varied by stupendous 
heights, narrow glens, dark woods, and impenetrable jungles; the 
haunt of beasts of prey, monkeys, and birds: among the latter is 
the jungle-fowl, or cock of the woods, probably the domestic fowl 
in a wild state; being of their size and shape, with the head and 
some plumage of the partridge, which it also resembles in 
flavour. 
The lower part of these mountains is shaded by a variety 
of ti 'ees, and softened by many dowering shrubs; their sum- 
mits present a curious kind of stones, which are found in much 
greater abundance on the Deccan mountains, near Poonah, and 
profusely scattered in other parts of the country; they are sta- 
lactical, grow in large masses, and are of a dinty nature: from 
the upper and lower surface of these stones proceed crystalliza- 
tions, which denticulate with each other in a very singular man- 
ner: in many, from a single base, or bed of pure dint, shoot 
forth angular chequers of great lustre and beauty; while others 
consist of a common sort of stone, not very hard, encrusted by 
a sparry substance: from a close examination, dint appears to be 
the matrix of the majority; and as the crystallization advances, the 
dint diminishes. 
Most of the jungles, or wild forests of underwood, abound with 
tigers, hyaenas, hogs, deer, and porcupines: the former are as large 
and ferocious as in other parts of India, and render a solitary 
excursion dangerous: they approached close to our habitations 
