Part 9

they made a regular commotion, running in towards the village, beating gongs and tom-toms, and evidently in a great state of alarm. We had previously determined to avoid all villages for fear of creating any such alarm, or to run any risk of coming into collision with the people. This last point was most essential, as any disturbance between us and the villages might have complicated the diplomatic arrangements which were going on, so that the utmost forbearance and discretion were requisite on our part. We therefore did not go any nearer, but leaving the village half a mile on our right continued our road. As we passed, the headman of the village came out to meet us and make friends with us, inviting us to the village to drink tea; but we could not alter our plans, and so left him. We next halted for breakfast near one or two other villages, when the people poured out to look at us in wonder and amazement. At first they were rather shy and kept at a distance, but one or two bolder than the rest came nearer, and then all the rest followed their example, crowding round us and eyeing us with the greatest curiosity. They examined our clothes, and thought a good deal of the beauty of the cloth; but one or two officers who were sketching attracted the greatest attention. It was very amusing to witness them. They were well clothed, and seemed to be all pretty comfortably off. We continued our journey, circling round the mountains, till we entered a large plain. We then made for a large wood we saw on the opposite side of the plain, where we proposed to have tiffin and expected to find some game. On approaching this wood we unexpectedly found ourselves in presence of a large village hitherto hid from view; we were too near to avoid it, as we should have wished, and therefore went on, lest the villagers should think we avoided them from fear. So on we went, the people civil as usual. On nearing our wood, which was now close at hand, the people followed us, making signs to us not to enter the wood. At that moment we heard a confused noise inside as of people in a state of alarm,