1822.] the Sources of the Rivers Ganges and Jumna.” 115 
about 500 yards, part of the base of the great Jumnotri moun- 
tain rises abruptly cased in snow and ice, and shutting up and 
totally terminating the head of this detile, in which the Jumna 
originates. I was able to measure the thickness of the bed of 
snow over the stream very exactly by means of a plumb line let 
down through one of the holes in it, which are caused by the 
steam of a great number of boiling springs which are at the bor- 
der of the Jumna. The snow is very solid and hard frozen; but 
‘we found means to descend through it to the Jumna by an 
exceedingly steep and narrow dark hole made by the steam, and 
witnessed avery extraordinary scene, for which I was indebted 
to the earliness of the season, and unusual quantity of snow 
which has fallen this year. When! got footing at the stream 
(here only a large pace wide), it was some time before I could 
discern any thing, on account of the darkness of the place, made 
more so by the thick steam; but having some white lights with 
me, I fired them, and by their glare was able to see and admire 
the curious domes of snow overhead ; these are caused by the 
hot steam melting the snow over it. Some of these excavations 
are very spacious, resembling vaulted roofs of marble ; and the 
snow as it melts falls in showers, like heavy rain, to the stream, 
‘which appears to owe its origin in a great measure to these sup- 
plies. Having only a short scaled thermometer with me, I could 
not ascertain the precise heat of the spring, but it was too hot to 
bear the finger in for more than two seconds, and must be near 
the boiling point. Rice boiled in it but imperfectly. The range 
of springs is very extensive, but I could not visit them all, as the 
rest are in dark recesses and snow caverns. The water of them 
rises up with great ebullition through crevices of the granite 
rock, and deposits a ferruginous sediment, of which I collected 
some : it is tasteless, and | did not perceive any peculiar smell. 
From near this place, the line of the course of the Jumna is 
erceptible downward to near Lak’ha Mandal, and is 55° 40° 
W. It will be seen by the notes that from the place called 
Bhaira Ghati, the bed of the river is overlaid with snow to the 
“depth of from 15 to 40 feet, except at one or two places, where 
it shows itselfthrough deep holes in the snow. 
The snow bed is bounded to the right and left by mural preci- 
op of light coloured granite : on some ledges there is a sprink- 
ing of soil where the b’hojpatra bushes grow. The end of this 
dell or defile is closed, as before observed, by part of the base of 
the great snowy mountain of Jumnotri, and which is visible 
from the plains. The altitude of the part of the mountain visible 
is 29° 48’; but higher parts are concealed by the lower and 
‘nearer. The face of the mountain, which is visible to the 
height of about 4000 feet, is entirely cased in snow and ice, and 
very steep. The foot of the base is distant from the hot springs 
‘about 500 yards, and immediately where the ascent becomes 
Ie 
