Page:Scenes in Southern India.djvu/19



dawn was spreading softly over earth and sky yesterday morning when, after a more substantial chota hajri or preliminary breakfast than usual, we stood in the veranda equipped for the start.

Our starting-point was Bombay, where we had been staying some weeks with our kind friends, Mr. and Mrs. Miller. . ..

We had to leave early to catch the morning train for Poona and the Deccan. The morning is always the best part of our Indian day, and I am almost sure that it is also the most beautiful. As I stood watching the sweet silver dawn steal gently up and dispel the darkness and mystery of night, I thought it was not so wonderful that the impressionable, dreamy old poets of ancient India