But I must not wander here into the consideration of matters to which I shall again have occasion to refer when I come to remark on the wonderful progress made in India in recent years owing to the introduction of English skill and capital, and shall now briefly describe my route to the western jungles of Mysore.
When I landed in Bombay, in 1855, the journey to the Native State of Mysore, now so easy and simple, was one requiring much time and no small degree of trouble, for the railway lines had then advanced but little--the first twenty miles in all India having been only opened near Bombay in 1853.

A land journey then was not to be thought of, and as there were no coasting-steamers, I was compelled to take a passage in a Patama (native sailing craft) which was proceeding down the western coast with a cargo of salt which was stowed away in the after-part of the vessel.

Over this was a low roofed and thatched house, the flooring of which was composed of strips of split bamboo laid upon the salt.

On this I placed my mattress and bedding.

My provisions for the voyage were very simple--a coop with some fowls, some tea, sugar, cooking utensils, and other small necessaries of life.