up; and some of
them were, in some of the most abrupt turnings in the ascent, actually
hanging by the ropes, in a very dangerous state. One gun broke from its
drag-ropes, but it was, fortunately, not far from a turning, which
brought it up without any accident. Indeed, scarcely an accident
happened worth the relation, save one, which I pledge my word was an
absolute fact. A small hackery, or cart, belonging to some of the
followers of the camp, fell down a precipice upwards of eighty yards
deep, the sides of which were studded with trees of an enormous size.
The two bullocks who drew this cart were dashed to pieces, and the
driver so dreadfully injured that he had scarcely a feature left that
could be recognized as human. Some ten feet from the cart lay a child
about two years of age, perfectly uninjured, with the exception of one
slight bruise on its little knee. It was supposed that the cart did not
upset till at the bottom of the declivity, and that not until then did
the child fall out; but it was certainly one of those extraordinary
circumstances which sometimes happen, for which it would be difficult
satisfactorily to account.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XVIII.

Having made my report that the whole of the stores, baggage, &c, had
been safely got up the ghaut, I was still at the general's, when a
messenger came from Rajah Buckeet Bellee, the rajah of Hadjepore, whom I
have before alluded to; and the general requested I would escort him
into camp. I therefore rode towards the top of the ghaut, where I found
the rajah in waiting. The purpose of his visit was to make his peace
with the general, who was much displeased at his not having complied
with his requisition to furnish five hundred workmen to assist us to get
up the baggage. The rajah had with him five elephants, and twenty
horsemen, with spears, guns, &c. He was inclined to be affable and
jocular with me; but I could see through his dark eyebrows the more
inward workings of his heart. He broke silence by asking me if the
general was displeased with him. Knowing the character of the fellow, I
could hardly make up my mind to be civil to him, so I replied, "You had
better put that question to him who can best answer it. If the general
is not offended, he has good reason to be so." He then asked me what was
the object of our campaign, and I told him that he had better reserve
all these questions for the ear of the general himself, who, no