Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-06-25
AN ADVENTURE IN INDIA.


AN ADVENTURE IN INDIA.
During residence of some months at a sta
tion on the Malabar coast of Hindoostan, l
frequently went into the forest alone, for the
purpose Of amusing myself by the great vari-
ETY. of game, but seldom ventured so far as to
prevent my returning before night Attended
by a native, 1 one day proposed ascending a
mountain, whose blue summit could scarcely
be distinguished from the town, rising afar in
the wilderness above the lesser heights of the
great Gaut range. We started at daybreak,
and plunged directly into the forest in Il di-
tion toward the object of our expedition.
carried a heavy rife, and wore q brace of pis-
tolls and long hunting knife in my girdle.-
Ny companion wore nothing but a pair of un-
shapely shoes. made of untanned leather, and
a garment Of leopard skin which descended to
his knees, was fasteded at the waist by a belt
in which was placed heavy knife with a curry
ed blade, which observed was very sharp and
bright; he carried no other weapon, except a
short fowling piece, loaded with ball. He was
an athletic and bold-looking fellow, acquaint-
ed with all the methods of hunting and COM
batting all the fierce providers of the wids, and
possessed Of an uncommon degree Of sagaci-
~, coolness and physical strength. Those
were the qualities l desired, for had been in
formed that the mountain we had been in quest
OF was considered by the natives as 4 danger
Gus place, even for the most Skilful and dar-
ing hunter, being full of rocky caves inacces-
sible to nything but the beasts to which they
afforded shelter; and the country in its vicin-
ity being covered with dense forests and dark
taged jungles, into which the foot OF man had
never yentured.
As we approached the mountain our pro-
gress indeed became more and more difficult.
Thick bushes and fallen timber frequently OBJ
structed our way. Nearly every appearance
Of game ceased here. The smallest animals
had fed this region, or had fallen prey to
the more lordly species of the brute creation.
Occasionally we heard the crashing of the
houghs, and caught-a glimpse of some moving
object in the dark recesses of the thickets, or
saw the spotted folds of the cobra di capella,
and other fearful snakes, glide away and dis
appear among the leaves and thick brush, as
though startled At our approach. But thus far
we had proceeded so cautiously as not to dis
turb these dangerous creatures, or attract their
attention. Ny companion would frequently
pause, in listening attitude ,and cast his pier
cling eyes into the tree tops, which met above
us and completely shut out the light of day,
as though he expected to see the crouching I'll
ger or the anaconda, ready to dart upon us
xnd yet there was no expression of fear on the
fellows countcnance-it was the caution of
the true hunter.
We had accomplished nearly one-half of
the ascent, when we were stopped by wall Of
rock, perpendicular in many places to the
height of several hundred feet, and running a.
cross the face of the mountain, to the right
and the left, until the eye lost its curve on
either side. Seeing no way OF passing over,
under, or through the obstacle, directed the
native to follow the ledge short distance to-
ward the left, in order to find an opening,
while took to the right. proceeded some
distance, ,and fond a break in the rock through
which / thought We might make our way to
the top. Trees had grown up in this opening,
and bushes had sprung up from every crevice
along its sides, filling ii up so completely that
only an occasional glimpse could be had of
the sky, through the top, which appeared no
wider than ones hand.
While contemplating this singular arrange
rnent, the native made his appearance, and af-
fer aitentiVeiy considering the opening, said
he could make the ascent. At this moment
sudden current of air, bursting through the
crevice, parted the bushes and disclosed to US,
a little beyond, a 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
Ihis point, and were convinced at once that
the ascent would be difficult. The creviee wi
dened here, and struck me in particular that
II seemed no longer rent, but a natural open
ing, which grew gradually wider as il ran far
ther into the mountain, and the sides of which
were composed of earth and rock OF various
dimensions, some projecting nearly or quite
across the issure. The side which We propos-
ed to ascend was not quite perpendicular at
this spot, and its broken appearance, and the
shrubs growing from it, made our success ap-
parently feasible.
Impelled by curiosity and desire to know
1ncro OF the singular opening, determined 70