The mirror., 1910-09-15
An Interesting
Description
OF an Early Morning Ride Years Ago
In Southern India by an
English Lady.

A warm glow in the East, throw
ing into bold relief the dark, purple
outlines of the distant hills, discover
ing family the long rows of stately /
palmyras, with here and there dark
mass, gradually changing under the
ever Frightening glow into majestic
looking trees, between whose sombre
shades the dark forms of owls and
other nocturnal birds fit noiselessly
to and fro, seeking their well-con
cealed retreats for the day.
On the topmost rail of the bamboo
fence beneath our window, sits the
morning herald, the little black king
crow, uttering his brisk notes and
giving his forked tail shake now
and then, as if to convince himself
that he is really awake. Up and
down the banyan tree close by, with
a series of jumps and jerks, moves
the clumsy crow-pheasant, with her
chestnut wings and bright red eyes,
while her mate keeps up his doleful
twoot. twoot," as if in protest against
such early rising.
The glow is golden now, and has
touched the tops of the tallest pal
myras; already the air is full of stir
and song. A flock Of green parrots
comes screeching overhead, pausing
a few moments in their race to rest
on the cornice of the house and the
open venetian windows; noisy, quar-
relsome gossips they are, each one
trying to edge the other off his point
of vantage, till with shrek the
whole flock darts off for another race
in the cool, fresh air.
A few moments more, and we are
in the saddle, pacing down the long
avenue of spreading trees, with the
sun just peeping over the hills, and
laughing at us between the giant
trunks. Down the red, dusty road
we 90, between the tall, prickly- pear
hedges, covered with mass of pale
yellow flowers, the beautiful lemon
colored cactus. A turn to the right
and we are off for gallop-past the
awakening bazaars- past the sad and
neglected Hindoo burning and burial
ground, Uttered with bones and in
tested with loathsome vultures
awaiting their next ghoulish meal
away, away into the open country!
We forget for the time the hot,
weary days, before and behind us,
the sleepless nights and somnolent
punkah-w allahs.* All around us is
Nature, joyous and free, while we
ourselves are soothed and refreshed
by the cool, fresh morning air. The
little striped squirrel, sitting up eat
ing nuts, bounds halfway up tree
as we suddenly come upon him and
flirting his bushy tail, complains to
all his neighbors and friends of the
fright he has sustained. Golden orr
oles. blue jays, with their lovely
azure wings, the graceful and active
e-eater, and many other birds of
brilliant plumage are with us con-
stantly, while the lark, like a speck
in the deep blue sky, thrills us with
his heavenly song.
Soon we are several miles from
home and the sun is getting high.
Let us follow this dry nullah, which
will guide us to our homeward road
On the left is little Hindoo tenn
pie, bare and ugly, but cleanly swept
and the doorway ornamented with
strings of gaudy yellow and majenta
flowers; we catch a glimpse in pass
ing of the hideous black stone idol
within. with its staring eyes of tale
it's face and shapeless body besmear-
ed with saffron and vermillion. On
the floor in front of this monster are
deposited few cocoanuts, with some
rice and ghee on platters made Of
-.