Wanderings of a naturalist in India, the western Himalayas, and Cashmere

· 1867 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

1NATURALIST IN INDIA. 9

2bade farewell to our kind host, and left in his canoe, loaded

3with fruit and sngaivcane.

4Turtles are plentiful, but the particular species I could not

5determine. The frigate, or man-of-war bird {Tachypetes), was

6often seen soaring at great heights. Its deeply-forked tail

7and aquiline flight are distinctive.

8After passing the line we were becalmed for several days,

9during which there was not a ruffle on the wide expanse, and

10our vessel lay like unto "a painted ship upon a painted

11ocean."

12Every one was tired out by the monotony of a long voyage ;

13and irrespective of that, and the failure of the winds, the heat

14was great> and seldom under 86** and 90** in our cabins. At

15length uncertain breezes came and went, and after days of

16suffocating heat and much discomfort we cast anchor in

17Bombay harbour on the 18th May, when the troops were

18disembarked into small boats, and sailed for Panwell, on

19the coast.

20The weather was intensely hot at the time : in conse-

21quence we were obliged always to march at night, so as to

22arrive in camp before the burning sun of the Deccan made its

23appearance.

24A hurried visit was paid to the celebrated Caves of Carlee,

25and we admired their wonderful galleries and colossal ele-

26phants, dug out of solid trap ; but there was no time to exa-

27mine anything minutely, for the short-lived evenings of these

28latitudes afford but scanty opportunities for a passing traveller

29to feast his fancy.

30Soon after our arrival at Poonah we were joined by the

31other detachments of the regiment, which had arrived at

32Bombay after us ; and then, once fairly settled down to habits

33of Eastern life, I found that even active or onerous profes-

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