of the Valley of the Setlej River. 49 



of rock. Numerous rills trickle down from the mountains, 

 and afford ample supplies for the fields, which are chiefly rice. 

 Siirdn, 7250 feet above the level of the sea, is the summer 

 residence of the Basehar Raja and his court. The climate is 

 fine. Three miles from this, near the Setlej, are hot springs. 

 Formerly human sacrifices were offered at a remarkable tem- 

 ple sacred to Bhima Call, the patroness of Basehar. They 

 have been disused since the British conquest. 



The travellers halted four days (19th to 22d Sept.) on ac- 

 count of incessant rain, waiting for the reconstruction of a 

 sango over the Manglad torrent, which had been washed 

 away by the flood. The temperature was stationary at 50° 

 during the rainy weather, but rose to 64° when the weather 

 cleared. They now resumed their journey, crossed the Man- 

 glad by a crazy bridge of two spars connected by twigs. The 

 stream was frightfully rapid. The ascent from the dell, steep 

 as the descent to it, was more difficult ; the path lying upon 

 mica wet with rain, and slippery at every step. 



Next day (23d Sept.) brought the travellers to Rampur, 

 the capital of Basehar. It is on the left bank of the Setlej, 

 3300 feet above the sea, in lat. 31° 27', and long. 77° 38'. 

 The houses are of stone and slated, and some are very neat. 

 The spot is hot and unhealthy in summer, and as cold in win- 

 ter. Under the town is a rope bridge of 211 feet across the 

 Setlej, leading to Rulu. On the opposite* summit of the range, 

 which is lofty, are three forts, crowned with huge towers and 

 battlements, which give them an imposing appearance. 



Following the banks of the Setlej, and crossing Nawagari, 

 a large stream, by a well-constructed wooden bridge, they 

 found the dell expand at Dattanagar. Hitherto the valley of 

 the Setlej has been narrow, confined between abrupt moun- 

 tains. It now forms a flat, three miles wide, well watered by 

 canals, and bearing luxuriant crops. 



A few miles further they forded the Beari torrent, and 

 finally emerged from the glen of the Setlej by a very fatiguing 

 and steep descent of 4000 feet perpendicular height ; and, 

 three miles further, by a winding road through woods of oak, 

 yew, and horse-chesnuts ; and arrived at Kotgarh, where the 

 survey terminates. 



VOL. VI. NO. I. JAN. 1827. D 



