PREPARING FOR THE TRIP. 107 



And love adventures of great pith and moment 

 With this regard their currents run away, 

 And miss the name of wedlock. 



After this trip, a couple of days were devoted to 

 preparations for our expedition amongst the moun- 

 tains to the Source of the Ganges. Stores, groceries, 

 and supplies of all kind were provided and packed 

 securely in our waterproof "kiltas," iron-shod alpen- 

 stocks were made, and a light portable bridge and 

 ladder of my own invention constructed; which 

 latter arrangement I shall describe, as it proved on 

 many occasions very useful during our trip, for 

 with it we could in a moment either bridge a nullah 

 eighteen feet wide, or climb a scarp of twenty. It 

 somewhat resembled the arm of a fire-escape, 

 having a canvas back and strong male bamboo 

 sides, bound with iron, strong hooks being fastened 

 at one end and spikes at the other. The rings, 

 however, were all of rope, except those at the top 

 and bottom, which were of stout iron, and move- 

 able, so that the whole could be taken to pieces for 

 carriage, or put together in a moment. 



As the roads, or rather tracts, were impassable, 



