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46
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(FEBRUARY, 1897.
forest of lofty trees, among which we observed the walnut flourishing most luxuriantly, the fruit of which, though not yet ripe, was of a very large size. At a mile further we halted at a stockaded position called Naddy Gine, which commands the whole of the road, and which, if occupied by even a small body of resolute men, would be a serious obstacle to overcome. Our party here were much distressed from a want of water, none being to be got except at the distance of 600 yards and down an almost perpendicular descent; our elephants and cattle were consequently obliged to go without, although every exertion was made to procure it for them of course, both men and animals were excessively fatigued by the march: the rear gnard did not come up until near two o'clock in the morning, leaving on the road three elephants and many bullocks. One elephant, as if he was perfectly aware of the difficulty, refused to attempt the ascent, even at the commencement. None of these animals could be recovered, although every pains was taken. The distance we ascended in this day's march was six miles, two furlongs.
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We could not move this morning until 10 o'clock, but at this hour we set off. Our road was down a most precipitons descent for 6 furlongs, when we came to a small spring of water which flowed in a valley on the right of the road, and here we stopped to allow our cattle to drink; we then descended again a distance of another 6 furlongs, and so very steep was the road that some of the cattle that fell, unable to recover themselves, came rolling over the others and causing great confusion and distress; even the elephants kept their feet with great difficulty. We here found a small weak stockade, intended apparently as an advanced post to the one on the hill. The road from hence wound round the side of a conical hill, with a steep precipice on our right. The whole of these hills were covered with a superior species of bamboo, growing up very straight to an immense height. An accident happened here which might have been attended with serious consequences. Lt. Vivian was leading his pony over a fallen tree, which the animal sprang over, and alighted on some ground which gave way with him, and, being unable to recover himself, rolled over the edge of the precipice and bounded over and over to the distance of 100 yards, when, to the great astonishment of every one looking on, the animal regained its feet apparently uninjured and began eating the surrounding leaves. Pioneers and ropes were obliged to be sent down to drag him up, and on his resurrection even his saddle was found to be uninjured. The nature of the ground during this march was much the same, being generally on a ridge on the side of a hill running around it. We had, at different times, a sight of the stockade we left in the morning, now towering above our heads and seemingly mingled with the clouds. At dusk we encamped at the fall of a ridge at a place called Waddeh. A short way down the southern side of the ridge was a spring of water, and the access to it not difficult-a most important relief to our poor cattle. On this day's march the baggage arrived between 9 and 10 o'clock P.M. The ascents, after leaving this place were numerous, but the road generally good through a very fine bamboo jungle in which are numerous herds of wild elephants, the tracts [sic] of which could be seen in every direction. There was little variation in this day's march, the road lay over the ridges and necks of land until within two miles of Surway wah, when it began to descend gradually, and we shortly found ourselves to our great delight on the banks of the river Deng [sic]. Here we got plenty of fine fodder for our cattle and good encamping ground for ourselves. We had been led to suppose that from hence to Deng would be but a short march, and that the road was good, but we found, on crossing the river, and ascending the opposite hills, that it was with the greatest difficulty we could keep on our feet, the ground being so remarkably slippery, and as we were marching before daylight, darkness added not a little to our embarrassment. Shortly, however, after the day broke, the road became better, running through a thick jungle. We crossed over eight mountain torrents, all of which had bridges composed of strong wood and well formed, but decay had commenced, and they would have been unfit for our troops to have passed over, which was unlucky, as it gave our Pioneers much trouble to cut and form roads, which they were obliged to do up the steep banks. We again crossed the Aeng River, leaving the hills entirely to our right. The road now ran through a flat country covered with jungle. After
