The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-09-01
ADVENTURE IN INDIA.

| II II
During a residence of some months at ;
station on the Malabar coast of IIin,ostan.
frequently went into the forest alone, for tn,
purpose OF amusing myself by the grca
variety Of game. but seldom vcnturcd 50 IA,
as to prevent my returning before night. At
tended by native, one dav proposed asce n
ding mountain, whose blue summit coult
scarcely be distinguished from the town, ris
ing afar in the wilderness above the lcssc,
heights of the Gaut range. We started a
davbreak. and plunged directly into the for
est. in direction toward the object .r ,,,u
expedition carried a heavy rifle. and wor.
brace of pistols and long huntinr-kniEs II
my "Irdle. My companion wore nothino bu
apalr OF unShapelv shoes. made of untanncl
leather, and a garment of leopard skin which
descending to the knees was fastened At IN,
waist 10y belt. in which was placed hcav,
knife. with carved blade. which I observed
was very sharp and bright he carried nr
other weapon. except short fowlincpieco
loaded with ball. lie was an athletic and
ho'd-looklnc fellow. acquainted with all the
methods of hunting and comhaftinc all the
frsrce providers of the wildS. and possessed
OF an uncommon degree Of Saractv. GOODNESS
and physical strength. These were tbe ou,l.
flies desired, for had Teen informed flat
the mountain we had been in quest of was
considered bv the natives as a danoc-ous
place. even for the most skilful and tarino
hunter. being full Of rocky caves inaccessible
to any thing but the beasts to whom they af-
fordcd shelter: and the country in its vicini-
~ being covered with dense forests and da, K
tangled .Iunclcs, into which the foot of man
had never vcnturcd.
rs we approached :he mountain onr nro,.
ross IN icc'l became more and more JiGir,,,.
Thick bushes and t',len timber frc.,uen,ly
"t>'ru"tcd our way. Nearly every arrcar.
ance OF game ceased here. The smallest an.
'mals had fled this region. or had tallena rrcy
T" the more lort'lv species of the brute crc,-
fion- Occasionally we heard Ike crssl;nc
OF the tonchs. and cauch' glimpse Of some
moving object in tie dark rcccssc> Of thc
thickefs, - I he spotted folds of,hc cobra
di cahe LA. amfhther fearful snakes. glide a
wav and disappear among the leaves and
thick brush. AS though starilc,. at our an
l-oarh. Eat thus far we Lad projected %
cautiously as not TO li>tnrh these Iancoro,s
creatures. or attract their attention. Nv
companion would frequently pause. in list
"n'n" attitude, and cast his piercing glance
into The tree tops which met :lovc us and
completely shut ont The light Of ,lav.a AS ,'icn,h
he expected 10 see the crourhinc .iccr or the
anaconda. ready to dart upon us: and vc.
there was no expression Of fear on the tcl
lows countcnancc-it was the caution of the
true hunter
We had accomplished nearly onc-la,f of
me ascent when W. wee stepped l., wall
of rock rcrrcndirr'ar in many places 70 the
height Of several hundred feet. and r,rn;rr
across II" face Of The mountain. 10 the .ic't
and left, until the eve lost its curve on ci,tcr
SIDE. Seeing no way Of passing over. nnI,r
or through the obstacle, ! directed the native
to follow the ledge a short distance toward
the left. in order to find an opening. while I
took the right. proceeded some distance.
and found break in the rock throrrh which
thought we might make our way to the TON
Trees had grown up in this opening. and
bushes had sprung from every crcvice alonc
its sides, filling it up so completely ;ha; only
an occasional glimpse could lie had of the
sky thrench The top, which appeared no wi
der than ones hand.
"h'le contemplating this singular arrange
menf- the native made his appearance. and
after aftcntlvely considering the oy,eninc.said
he could make the ascent. At this moment
sudden current Of air, bursting through the
crcvlce, parted the bushes and disclosed 10 ne
Little beyond, spot where the great rock
seemed no longer entire. We had proceeded
along this passage, which was nearly blocked
up by the trees and brush until we reached
tins point, and were convinced at once the
ascent would not be difficult The crcvire
widcned here. and it struck me in particuIar
thai IT seemed no longer a rent. but a natural
opening, which grew gradually wider as it
ran further into the mountain. and tho sides
OF which were composed of earth and rock
OF various dimensions. some projecting nearly
or quite across the fSsurc. The side which
we proposed TO ascend was not quite perpcn-
d'cuar at this spot, and its broken appcar-
ance, and the shrubs growing from it, made
our success apparently feasible
lmpelled by curiosity and desire 10 know
more Of this singular opening, determined
to Penctrat" farther into it, while nv COM
pan'on tried the ascent. Irrocccded some
distance. and noticed that the passage seemed
to grow no wider; but the vegetation became
thinner at every step, and at length ceased
almost entirely. Here, on king up, saw
that the crev'ce was closed some fifty feet a.
Dove, and before me was darkness, in which
l dared not penetrate. While looking with
sort Of horror into this dark chasm which
seemed to lead directly toward the heart of
the mountain, heard rustlins sound pro-
cecdlng from its reccsscs, and started bacl
APPALLED, at the thought of having entered pe--