At many points the rock fell away in precipices, hundreds of feet deep.

At other points, although the descent was less steep, it was, as far as he could see from above, altogether unclimbable; but this he thought he would be able to judge better, from below.
"Do you have sentries round here at night ?" he asked the governor.
"No.

It would not be necessary, even if an enemy were encamped below.
If you will ride round the foot of the hill when you leave, you will see for yourself that, save from the side you came up, the place is absolutely inaccessible." The view from the top of the hill was superb.

Away to the northeast, the governor pointed out the pagodas of Bangalore, twenty-two miles away; the distance, in the clear air, seeming comparatively trifling.
"Are there many troops there ?" Dick asked.
"There are about five battalions of the regular troops, and three Chelah battalions.

These can hardly be counted as troops.