The work was severe, and they were glad when at last they reached the level country.

In some of the upper valleys, opening on to this, they had seen small villages.

Near one of these they had slept, and as in the morning they saw that the inhabitants were Hindoos, they fearlessly went out and talked with them, in order to gain some information as to the position of the forts, and to learn whether any bodies of Tippoo's troops were likely to be met with.
They found the people altogether ignorant on these matters.

They were simple peasants.

Their whole thoughts were given to tilling their land, and bringing in sufficient to live upon, and to satisfy the demands of the tax gatherers when they visited them.