reason why I should not go, whereupon I left the camp, desiring two of the men to follow.

A description of the nullah will give a definite idea of what I was about to do. A nullah is the dry bed of a water-course, which in summer carries off the waters of the plains into the rivers, and in winter becomes dry, with the exception of pools left here and there, to which the beasts of the forests resort for water at night. The banks are generally perpendicular, and from twelve to twenty feet high, so that it is not easy to get out unless by the beaten paths used by a herd of wild elephants or buffaloes. It must be confessed that I did not relish the prospect before me, but unless Chowsam was convinced that the Sahib was not to be trifled with, I should lose all influence over him and his followers. So I entered the mouth of the watercourse. The lofty trees-whose partly exposed roots hung in hideous distortions over the sides of the nullah-formed overhead a dense canopy, causing a darkness which at first seemed impenetrable, but after groping along for a time the eye grew accustomed to it, while the white sandy bed defined the road, the trunks of fallen trees standing out on it like uncouth monsters. With rifle cocked, and closely followed by the two Khamtees, I went cautiously on, stopping every now and then to listen to the sounds of cracking twigs which denoted the movements of some animal. Proceeding in this way for nearly a mile, I came to a fallen tree which laid across the nullah. Upon this I at once determined to seat myself and wait for a shot at any passing game. The tree was admirably

adapted for a Machan: climbing into it, I succeeded in finding a comfortable perch, about fifteen feet from the ground, as it were on a bridge, underneath which any animal coming up or down the nullah would have to pass. A slight opening in the trees on either bank allowed an occasional moonbeam to fall upon the bed of the nullah, thus giving light to take aim.

Having made myself comfortable, I bade the men return to camp, and remained alone on the watch. An hour passed without the sign of game, and I began to fear lest the moon should leave me in darkness, when the glare of a torch suddenly revealed some one ascending the nullah, and to my surprise I saw Chowsam and several of his men, evidently alarmed for my safety. They stopped just under the tree, and commenced an earnest conversation-the men evidently in doubt as to the spot where they had left me-which was suddenly interrupted by my descent into the middle of the group, upsetting two of the men. They picked themselves up and fled, but Chowsam's sharp unpleasant knife was out in a moment, but put up again as I greeted him with a loud laugh. We now formed a fine picture, as the glare of the torch lighted up the nullah. The working of the Khamtees' countenances as they composed their features for a laugh amused me greatly, as it was evident that they had been thoroughly frightened. Chowsam felt that he had been sold, but he appeared more pleased than angry, and proposed to keep watch with me for a time. As the moon had now disappeared, a torch and company were welcome, seeing that I

A Night in a Nullah.

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intended to wait on the chance of getting a shot at daybreak. After smoking and chatting for some time, Chowsam and his men departed, having first enveloped me in several of their blankets, and I stretched myself on the limb of the tree and waited, half-dozing, until the jungle cocks gave warning of the approach of day. Throwing off the blankets and rolling them up into a cushion, I made a comfortable seat, and with rifle in readiness commenced another watch. An hour passed, and daylight had already penetrated into the nullah, when I caught the cry of a little barking deer, which was evidently on the move. It soon made its appearance and stopped within a few yards of the tree, apparently unconscious of danger. Poor little animal! I covered it with my rifle, and with a pang of regret pulled the trigger. When the smoke cleared away all regret vanished, as in its outstretched form I realized the prospect of a venison breakfast. The report of the rifle echoed far and wide, and was answered by the mournful screams of the hulluk monkeys. The whole forest seeming suddenly to have awakened into life, I was in no hurry to descend from the tree, and it was fortunate that I stopped to reload, for I had scarcely reloaded when a tremendous crash was heard in the nullah just above, and a solitary bull-buffalo charged right under the tree in the direction of the camp. A bullet struck him in the side, without staying his career for a moment.

Fearing now that others might follow in his footsteps, or that the camp fires and the shouts of the men in the camp might drive him up the nullah again, I remained

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in the tree for half an hour, when Chowsam and all our party, including Philip and the negro, came in sight. The chief seeing me safe and sound, shook his head and laconically observed that it was "very bad," but I pointed to the venison, which was soon on the shoulders of one of the men, and we all returned to camp.

It appeared that Chowsam had been alarmed, lest I had been hurt by the buffalo. The beast, evidently infuriated, had charged through the camp and taken to the river, followed for some distance by the two bulldogs, which broke loose and gave chase.

This night's work had completely restored Chowsam's good opinion of my courage, and he never again ventured to put it to the test without necessity.

The loss of sleep over-night rendered the continuance of our march next morning rather a hard proceeding, but the scarcity of provisions would not allow of a day's rest, so we continued on, after a hearty breakfast of venison, which did not leave enough of the deer to make a decent meal in the evening. The men toiling all day under their loads, ate such enormous quantities of rice that our supply was rapidly decreasing, and I foresaw it was plain that, unless we soon arrived at a Mishmee village, we should experience a little hunger. In the evening when we camped, at the Bramapootra, some of the men collected a number of edible beetles. These little insects, which are a species of water-beetle, are found in immense numbers during the cold weather in the dry shingly bed of the Upper Bramapootra. They are about the size of a finger-nail, with bronzed wing shields, and