Captain Blame's Memoir on Sirmlxr. 63 



are passable, until the commencement of the rainy season, and the latter 

 only till the melting of the snow, in March. The access to the fords of 

 both rivers, above their junction, is extremely difficult, and easily to be 

 defended against a very superior force. The Giri is almost always ford- 

 able. 



Besides these fords, the mountaineers have a contrivance, called a Jola, 

 by which they cross the Tans and Jumna, at all seasons. The narrowest 

 part of the river is chosen, and four or five ropes, called a T,hovan, are 

 thrown across, and made fast to upright stakes, rendered firm by being let 

 into the rock, and strengthened by loose stones, piled around them. To 

 these ropes is attached a piece of wood, called the Jola, (made to fit the 

 small of the back), by the assistance of which the passenger glides across 

 the river, with his back to the water, flowing perhaps thirty or forty feet 

 beneath him. If loaded, his load is suspended on a ring of wood, sliding 

 over the rope, and easily drawn across by means of a small cord, doubling 

 through the supporting stakes. The traveller who does not chuse to trust 

 himself to his own exertions, may avail himself of this resource. The 

 Tfhovans vary from sixty to one hundred and thirty feet in length. 



Rivers. 



The Jumna, before it is precipitated into the plains, is swelled by two 

 large streams, the Giri and the Ta7is. The Tans, Jumna, and the Bhcigi- 

 rathi, one of the main branches of the Ga?iges, are said to rise from the 

 same group of mountains as the Girt, but this information should be re- 

 ceived with caution. 



The appearance of the two first, from Bdstab, and Chamriya, and (heir 

 gradual approximation, render it probable that their sources cannot be very 

 remote. When the snow begins to melt, the waters of these rivers are 

 discoloured ; those of the Tans are of a greenish grey (similar to the 

 Setm at Belushur), while those of the Jumna are of a brownish red. The 

 Setkj has a longer course, through the mountains, than either the Tans, or 

 Jumna. The snowy chain, coming from the east to the peak of Jamnotri, 

 thence trends northerly. 



Forts, 

 Many forts, or more properly castles, are scattered through Sirmdr. 

 Tlieir strength consists in their position, which is generally on peaks, com-. 



