Sit down by us, I beg of you, while your people are unloading your animals." "I marked you as you left Bangalore," the trader said, as he seated himself beside them, "and when I saw that you were taking the same route that we should follow, I wondered how far our roads might lie together." "We are travelling west," Surajah replied.

"It may be that we shall stop at Magree, and there, or at Outradroog, stop for a day or two to trade.

Thence we may go north." "Then as far as Outradroog our paths will lie together," the merchant said.

"There we shall strike the river, and turn south to Seringapatam.

I am sorry that you will not be going farther in our direction, for the roads are far from safe.