of the Valley of the Setlej River. 281 



river is 300 feet per mile, and in some places almost double : 

 where it presents an entire sheet of foam and spray, thrown 

 up and showered upon the surrounding rocks with loud con- 

 cussion, re-echoed from bank to bank with a noise like thunder. 

 The dell of the Tidung, at Huns, a Tartar village, is con- 

 fined by towering cliffs of white granite and mica slate. The 

 mountains in the neighbourhood of Chdrang are all of blue 

 slate, naked to their tops, and exhibiting decay and barrenness 

 in the most frightful forms. They tower in sharp detached 

 groups to about 18,000 feet. No vegetation approaches their 

 bases, whilst their elevated summits offer no rest to snow. 



Where the dell was narrowest, there was so little space for 

 the stream, that the road continued but for a small distance 

 on the same side, and crossed the river repeatedly by Sangas; 

 one was inclined at an angle of 15°. The travellers had to 

 pick their way : one while upon smooth surfaces of granite, 

 sloping to the raging torrent ; at another, the route led among 

 huge masses and angular blocks of rock, forming capacious 

 caves, where fifty or sixty people might rest : here the bank 

 was formed of rough gravel, steeply inclined to the river ; 

 there the path was narrow, with a precipice of 500 or 600 feet 

 below, whilst the naked towering peaks, and mural rocks, 

 rent in every direction, threatened the passenger with ruin 

 from above. 



In some parts of the road there were flights of steps; in 

 others frame-work, or rude staircases, opening to the gulf 

 below. In one place is a construction still more frightful to 

 behold ; it is called Rapid, and is made with extreme difficulty 

 and danger. In the instance, it consisted of six posts driven 

 horizontally into clefts of the rocks, about twenty feet distant 

 from each other, and secured by wedges. Upon this giddy 

 frame a staircase of fir spars was erected, of the rudest nature; 

 twigs and slabs of stone connected tliem together. There was 

 no support on the outer side, which was deep, and overhung 

 the Tidung, a perfect torrent. 



After surmounting this terrific passage, they came to ano- 

 ther, where the footpath had been swept away. It would 

 have been impracticable; but, from previous intimation, thirty 

 people had been despatched the preceding night from Thangi, 



