Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/500

436 beside a fire of burning straw. They were waiting for fresh bullocks!

During the night we had made just twelve miles, which, as we were in great haste to meet an appointment, was somewhat provoking. We made the best of it, however, and pushed on, our troubles growing thicker as our bullocks grew more thin. We were now entering the jungle, a wilderness extending around the base of the mountains, and many miles in depth. The hills became steep, the road rough, the air close, and the sun glared fiercely on us. The cattle toiled over the stony way, worn out with labour, and seeming ready to drop. At times they cast themselves down in the road with exhaustion and obstinacy, and would not move until actually lifted up. The drivers, goading, pushing, yelling, beating, and hauling, urged them on. As we mounted the hills, they called on their gods to help them: “Swamy! Swamy! Hanuman! Hanuman! (the monkey-god,) oh help! help! just get us up this hill! get us up this hill, and you shall have a cocoanut !" At the next hill the same promise was made, and at the next; but whether the god got his cocoanuts or not, I cannot say.

We were to have reached the foot of the