New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-08-10
Revelations of Thugisnl,


Chan0a, the Capltal OF q uiStfCt bno suti0
subject to the Mahrattas and some eghtyseyen miles
distant from Nagpore, which was indeed the nearest
station to us where the sight OF British face or the
sound Of British voice could delight our eyes or
ears. Chanda, situated amidst }ungles. ana over.
short time to be garrisoned by the Honorable Gem
pany,s troops prevailing fever made it unhealthy
and frequent visitations from cholera ola singular lata
character led to its evacuation But, ls2o, Wnen
we were sent there to protect the surrounding
from the aggressons Of migratory bands Q, marauu,
ers--the remnants of the broken up Plndaree ana
Goand armies-prosp was that onieer aeeIns ~
who by any circumstances apart irom aee ' =; h
honor, was prevented from joining his corps WITHIN
the seven miles of walls that enclosed the old
Struggling city and fort Of Chanda. The pro-
uce Of the district consists principally OF rice mlet
pulse and some sugar cane e9s .ne agllca,s u
and from The milk Of and buffalo, great quaint.
ties Of gtee or clarified butter are prepared for the
market This ghee, which, in its best condition, and
when fresh, is white and firm as curd and perfectly
nodorous, is far superior to the rancid butter and
lard of European kitchens, and is carefully packed
into huge dubbers, kegs Of hardened leather and
thus conveyed for sale to the towns and villages
in the neighborhood. Scarcely knowing whittier to
direct my course in the total want OF any objects OF
interest within convenient distance, resolved on
making shooting excursion towards Nagpore; and
il wearied of myself and my gun, ! decided on re-
naming at that gay station for the full period OF my
leave.
About twelve miles from Chanda there was a small
village called Basin thither then forwarded my
tent and ngimentals over night, intending to roe
out there the next morning with two comrades, VINO,
like myself were anxious TO verify tne repors Una.
had reached of the prolific nature of the adjacent
Jungle in the provision of game. We accordlngiy
reached Bassm to breakfast and found prettiy en-
bedded in a series of woodland tracts rather than
junglenor were our sporting expectations oal 1
for we found so many birds-from the peafowl that
supplied the fond Of soup at late dinner to den.
cate foriken and stately bustard-that when, on the
following morning, they babe me :" God speed
made up my mind to remain where was 1of announcer
day or two The beauty of those woodland tracts as
in the diminished glare of July sun. wandered
among them that afternoon could not be surpassed
in the whole range of sylvan scenery. On leaving my
tent pitched in little grove Of mangoes near the
village told my domestics not to expect me before
husband having ascertained that no tigers lurked
amongst the Businesses Of the near forest in which
here and there large patches OF cultivated land re-
deemed from the jungle proclaimed the gradual pro.
gress of agriculture fearlessy plunged into tract
Of BUSH which, having neither the density Of large
trees nor the intricacy of cosecreepng underwood,
was in no wise somb1e or menacing 1t was in fact,
more like the longneglected park OF q gentleman
residence in some woodland country and frequently
open gades Of grass, whose yerdant hues were be-
coming renovated from the first showers after the hot
months beautifully if irregulary ntersected by
tiny brooks rocks of small size, but of quaint shape
Enthusiastically covered by parasite plants and snug little
dells whence now an antelope and next Sowing,
cowardly hyena, darted out.
/ carried fowling piece, as in duty bound, but
truly Imade little of at any time, and on this
occasion rather considered it an encumbrance, for
felt greater inclination to scramble about in search
Of wild plants and their fruits and flowers than to at
tack the peaceful inhabitants of the wild wood AT
length, fairly weared, | flung myself down beneath
glorious tree of the wild fig, or Fcus giomerata. in
the axia of whose dependent branches grew clusters
of crimson fruit. Alas like the apples Of the Dead
Sea- they but Toasted the eye for though they turned
not to ashes on the lip, found them pregnant with
l -, 81 ste ouyorn airfv
with little black winged flies, whom Acheta Domes
tea in her charming Episodes could have as
signed category and name. However, contenting
myself with few ripe iujubes that grew near me,
drew out my pocket book and in the act OF pressing
into it little unknown flower of exquisite beauty,
fell fast asleep. My awakening was not OF the most
agreeable nature for was reused by a painful blow
Of something on the bone of my leg AT the instant
me to my situation there but gaining sitting po-
sition, beheld with start of terrora harpy faced
CT allure STOPPING towards me, and fixing pair of
red menacng eyes upon me. Again it struck me
with its beak AID then uttered loud cry, which
had the good effect Of injecting my assailant with my
own fears, for it receded, and saw what it was.
A few PAGES backward had tiuttered huge bird
one of those CHASTITY bald headed vutures of Hndos
TAM which are found congregating wherever garbage
and carrion spread out their fgtid banquets the
face of the land. Peering at me- its tshy eyes en-
bedded in red sockets Of what seemed raw flesh, its
dingy-whte wings extended and Tapping, as If pre-
paratory to attack, it gave harsh Scream and as
imagined was about to pounce upon me. Whether
such was its intention, who can say? However, /
seized my manton which lay beside me, and levelng
it at the guttonousooking creature, shot it through
the head 1t was, at any rate, the only bird had
shot that day, and immense was the excitement my
success seemed to create around me- flock of noisy
green parroquets, and chattering, darll-fea hered
minas from the tree above me, spoke discordant
plaudits as they burst from their green reeesses ;
while two squirrels darted frantically past with
1abq nhi q
sneaked out sly, crouching creature, which / took
for civet cat ..
At all events had now leisure to observe that a
change had crept over the face of the heavens sun
was at its setting must have slept more than an
hour; ] had no watch, but the heightened shadows
and the purple and golden haze which clad the wood
land, apprised me of fact that was at least probable
might chance to be benighted in those woods which
if safe and pleasant for day paste were not envabe
for night repose In some hurry and confusion
started up and away, and had walked a considerable
distance straight forward ere was aware that the
sun, rather its declining radiance. still in my
face, it had been when set out, and that, conse
quently, if wished to return to Bassim should
| turn my back upon it. l did So but got quickly
puzzled and soon remarked, from the increasing
size of the timber, that was getting more deeply
into the forest. could distinguish PATH though
hitherto there had been percevabe several Of those
tiny well tracks, that pierce through and inter
cross each other in most of the junges near town
or stealing, and which are so APPLY named in the
uldlect Vi Ine uatAfesy CHouiiuStu, enat Isl tuel-
tracks. G
| Again, I turned back striving as much as possible
to keep the sun behind me but the sudden cleaning
Of Hindoostan fell upon me as hurried on through
brake and brier, and there was scarcely CLEAN of
daylight left to direct me, when, all at once saw in
front of little tank Or lake, / knew not which
on the borders of which arose the dark walls of
edifce. Hurrying up to it, my disappointment was
at the full to find it to be the ruins of old pagoda
evidently long neglected. and almost entirely covered
in by long trailing lianas. solitary idol crumbled
in front Of it, the Wondering janor to the dismantled
| temple. No floral offerings of moogra or chrysan-
themum evnced recent devotional visitor; no bedzoin
scented gum, announced sacred0tal presence. As
stood, plunged in reflections that were not very ex.
hiarating, a loud growl from the jungle was heard
and from some distance from where j watched their
advent, creatures, she bear and her cub troted
towards the water. | was now fairly 90 in for it..
Should wait their approach, or take flight in the
darkness My ammunition was not of description
to protect me from such assaants ii attacked Mean
while they seemed perfectly unconscious of my prox-
unity, and drank very peaceaby of the water playing
a hundred clumsy antics, which the increasing OBJ
security made dimly visible to me.
+ AT length however, they retreated as they had
come; and as to my left the jungle appeared more
thin and low began to look about for path. None
could | find and at last really deemed that the
was until the first dense darkness of night recedeC
before the coming stars, and the moon, which knew
long must make its appearance. The front of the
pagoda facing the tank WAS a heap of ruins but n
carefully reconnoitred it, found that to the rear
where it looked upon the jingle, an archway and
few pillars remained in toerabe repair Here, then
seated myself on a fragment of stone, and waiet