26 .-- All vestiges of open country had long ceased.

We now rode for seventeen miles through magnificent forest, containing the most stupendous banian trees that I have ever beheld.

The ebony trees were also very numerous, and grew to an immense size.

This forest was perfectly open.

There was not a sign of either underwood or grass beneath the trees, and no track was discernible beyond the notches in the trees made at some former time by the Veddah's axe.