As day dawned, however, I fell upon the foe at a
certain advantage, and managed at last to get a few hours of sleep.
JULY 19. -- Made an expedition to the small lake to see a building
which we were informed was built by the Puree, or fairies -- the Peri
of poetical licence.
After a sharp struggle up a steep hill, under a hot sun, we reached
the building; but, to all appearance, the fairies had less to do
with the edifice than a race of very indifferent engineers. It was
evidently the remains of a hill fort, built of stones and mortar,
and with nothing wonderful in its construction whatever. It was
tenanted by buffaloes and a few natives; and having seen specimens
of both before, we took our departure again rather in a bad humour
with both the fairies and their partisans.
In the plain below we found the remains of Cyclopeian ruins in an
enormous block of stone, part of a column.
JULY 22. -- Started this evening in the direction of the water-lake
in further search of ancient ruins.
JULY 23.
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