1822.] Extracts from the “ Journal of a Survey,” &c. 99 
ARTICLE I]. 
Extracts pon the “ Journal of a Survey to explore the Sources 
of the Rivers Ganges and Jumna.” By Capt. J. A. Hodgson, 
10th Reg. Native Infantry. 
(Concluded from p. 52.) 
A sharp peak across the river; call it the pyramid. Height 
above the 20,966 feet. 
A rock on the great snowy bed, over which we are to pass, 
roved to be distant 9044 feet, and its height above this place 
984 feet, the angle of elevation being 6° 15’, which is the general 
inclination of the snow bed; as our progress was continued far 
beyond this rock, it will easily be imagined that the crest or 
summit of the bed, then distant five or more miles by estimation, 
must have considerable elevation. 
We had brought very few followers onwards from Gangotri, 
but here we sent back every one we could possibly dispense 
with, that our small stock of grain might subsist the remainder, 
who were a few trusty fellows (Mussulmans), two Gore’ha Sipa- 
his, and a few Coolies, for two days, or three, if possible, in the 
event of our being able to get over the snow in front. And I 
sent orders to the people at Gangotri to leave grain there if they 
had any to spare, and if they did not hear of any supply coming 
from Reital, to make the best of their way back till they met it, 
and then to halt for us, and send some on to us. 
Having made all the arrangements we could on the important 
head of supplies, and made observations, we had leisure to 
admire the very singular scenery around us, of which it is impos- 
sible to give an adequate description. 
The dazzling brilliancy of the snow was rendered more strik- 
ing by its contrast with the dark blue colour of the sky, which 
is caused by the thinness of the air; and at night, the stars 
shone with a lustre which they have not in a denser atmosphere. 
It was curious too to see them, when rising, appear like one 
sudden flash, as they emerged from behind the bright snowy 
summits close to us, and their disappearance, when setting 
behind the peaks, was as sudden as we generally observed it to 
be in their occultations by the moon. 
We were surrounded by gigantic peaks entirely cased in snow, 
and almost beyond the regions of animal and vegetable life, and 
an awful silence prevailed, except when broken by the thunder- 
ing peals of falling avalanches. Nothing met our eyes resem- 
bling the scenery in the haunts of men; by moonlight, all 
appeared cold, wild, and stupendous, and a Pagan might aptly 
imagine the place a fit abode for GemOns, We did not see even 
H 2 
