Page:Burke, W.S. - Cycling in Bengal (1898).djvu/39

 and at Fitkiree, 12 miles further on, we pick up the kind of going that ended at Assansol. It is a gradual ascent all the time, and we put in so much hard work that frequent short spells of walking or loitering in the vicinity of pretty spots considerably reduces the mileage per hour, so that by the time we reach Topechanchy, 40 miles from the start, we are inclined for a lengthy lounge in the verandah of the Dâk Bungalow, at which, by the way, one usually gets good food and smart attendance. If forty miles of it has satisfied us, we hang up our hats for the night here, but if we are fit and well, we are on the wheel again with Bogodar and dinner as the next big item on the programme. With every excuse for loitering, we should not take more than seven hours to do those 40 miles between Barakar and Topechanchy: that would land us at the latter place at 1 o'clock, and if we start thence at 3 P. M., we ought to reach Bogodar by 6 or 6-30 P. M., for it is only 26 miles away, and the road is good as a rule.

Between these stations, and about half way, is Domree, a considerable village up in the hills, where there is an indifferent bungalow. At Bogodar very confortable accommodation awaits us and good commissariat too, for mutton varies the usual monotony of fowl, and good bread and vegetables are a change from chapatis and unripe guavas, which, further on, are sometimes all that even a fistful of backsheesh will procure. The road to Hazaribagh and Ranchi branches off the Grand Trunk Road here.

The first halting station we should make after leaving Bogodar is Burkutta, 15 miles ahead. There is an Inspection Bungalow here, and some fairly level going.