September 25th.—We started from Rooroo to Deora, nine koss distant. Our way lay through a valley filled with rice-fields. The sides of the valleys over the river are stupendous, being at least 1,500 feet high, receding in terraces, at a sharp slope, with villages here and there on their sides, and beetling crags overhanging, them. The Indian corn is now ready to be separated from the husk, and the villagers were all in the fields engaged in that operation.

About mid-day, the storm again gathered; the rain swept over us; the clouds collected in the valleys and blocked them up completely. The scene was very wild indeed, as we could only catch occasional glimpses of the great black crags over-head, shooting for a moment out through a veil of cloud.

Soon after mid-day, we came in sight of a cluster of buildings, one three stories in height, with a high peaked roof, and gables decorated with fantastic dragons' heads. The stones round the window were curiously carved, and a strong wall enclosed the whole. This is the stronghold of the Laree of Syree—an old lady rather famous for her cleverness and love of scandal. We breakfasted in a small tent which was pitched inside the enclosure of the court-yard, as her ladyship did not wish to invite us into her house. Lord William had, however, been specially invited, and paid her a visit; after breakfast we started once more, up a very difficult ascent, in a continuous torrent of rain.