They marched along by the side of the elephants, and in groups ahead and in rear of them, in a confused disorder; and it seemed to the lads that a mere handful of European troops would rout such a rabble as this.

They said as much to their Portuguese friend, but he told them that the people on the coast could scarcely be considered as a fair sample of those who dwelt in the hill country behind.
"The climate here," he said, "is much more relaxing.

Vegetation is extremely abundant, and all the necessities of life can be obtained in the easiest manner.

Consequently the people here are enervated, and cannot be compared to the horsemen of the plains.

The seat of the Indian power lies at Agra and Delhi--sometimes one and sometimes the other.