l8 INTRODUCTION, 



called bharal, which seldom come lower down than 

 13,000 feet. 



Before proceeding further it will be well to explain 

 that our route followed the main tributary of the 

 Ganges, and that as we got farther the mountains 

 converged so closely that it was necessary to carry 

 pedestrians across this stream by means of suspen- 

 sion bridges — backwards and forwards — the Forest 

 Department making the road on whichever side 

 the mountain was most favourable. One of these 

 suspension bridges was a great trial to the nerves, 

 being only three feet in width, 300 feet across, and 

 300 feet above the bed of the river, suspended from 

 two cables fixed into the ground over two posts on 

 either side ; these cables dropped down in the centre 

 like a skipping rope, whilst the planks of the bridge 

 went up. It oscillated a great deal, and if you lost your 

 head there was nothing to prevent you from falling 

 into the bed of the river below. But I must draw 

 to a conclusion. Finally, we got to a place called 

 Gungotri, about 14,000 feet above sea-level where 

 is one of the most celebrated shrines in India. Here 

 a snow storm came on, obliterating the track for the 

 time being, and not having sufficient leave at our 

 disposal we had to return to Bombay, but I believe 

 having got so far — had the weather been favourable — 

 we should have reached the source in another two 

 or three days. 



In May 1878 I went on a year's sick leave to 

 England, being very ill with liver and impaired 

 digestion. Not being fit to return to duty at the 



