H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh in India / [Sir Joseph Fayrer].

  • Fayrer, Joseph, Sir, 1824-1907
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh in India / [Sir Joseph Fayrer]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    63/74 (page 59)
    turn to their hills as soon they are over, and the cattle of the plains are driven away. It is then left to the few human beings who can withstand the deadly influence of the climate, and to the tigers, elephants, and other wild beasts that make it their abode. There are two interpretations of the derivation of the word “ Ter ii.”—one is “ tur,” moisture, the other “ tulli,” beneath, i. e., beneath the hills, and this perhaps is the right one, for in many parts it is quite a mistake to regard the terai as moist, and the outer ranges or elevations at the outskirts of the hills are anything but damp. The submontaue meaning is probably the correct one of the word terai. The Nepal hills are dis- tinctly visible, especially after a shower of rain. They look admirably situated for a hill station, and no doubt a suitable locality might easily be found were one allowed to search for it. The sal forests are very valuable and extensive. The Government have given away a mine of wealth in that recently made over to Nepal. They possess much still, and as it is now under the supervision of a regularly-organised forest department, its value will be appreciated and realised. March 1st.—The camp moved again to-day after breakfast to Newalkhar, about twelve miles from Soorma. The beat lay in the direction of the new camp, and was for some miles in a low grassy nullah, through which a small stream, known as the Gbagi or Ghajrajruns sluggishly. The sal forest skirts the banks of this stream, and there are frequent open spaces covered with long tiger grass. It is impossible to conceive better cover| for tigers, everything being there that they require, cover, water, and plenty of food in the cattle in the plains and the deer aid wild pigs in the jungle, and no doubt they abound, for their tracks were seen, but notwithstanding all the efforts made, none were found, and the day, as far as tigers are concerned, has been again a blank.