428 FORCE OF MOUNTAIN TORRENTS. 



Singh is said to have lost a force of cavalry, variously 

 estimated "at from 1200 to 7000 horsemen"* while 

 crossing" this river, in consequence of one of these 

 sudden freshets. For remarkable instances of sudden 

 floods of this kind, from which even streams flowing 

 through plains countries are by no means exempt, we 

 beg to refer the readers to our section on Climates and 

 Temperatures, where we trust many interesting details 

 on the subject of sudden floods, without apparent cause, 

 will be found enumerated. 



To these sudden floods, mountain torrents are of 

 course exceedingly liable; a very short interval of 

 heavy rain being sufficient to render what was previously 

 a dry stream bed, quite impassable ; a very moderate 

 depth of water, dashing rapidly down a hill side, being 

 quite enough to carry off both men and horses. When 

 the weight of the impact of water exceeds that of the 

 man, of course he most certainly will be carried off. 

 Now, the weight of each gallon of water is eight 

 pounds, and the momentum acquired during its flow 

 down a steep slope will cause it to strike any fixed 

 object crossing its current with at least an equal and 

 probably a much greater force that being so, it no 

 longer seems wonderful when we find immense rocks 

 in the gorges of great mountains, which have evidently 

 been carried down by the current. In the Himalayas, 

 the Andes, and other lofty chains, such instances are 

 common. Most persons w T ho have had even a very 

 moderate experience of mountains will also doubtless 

 be able to recall many instances of the wonderful 

 rapidity with which torrents swell, and how every little 



* See The Imperial Gazetteer of India, by W. W. Hunter, Vol. 

 vii., p. ii. (N.B. This event occurred about the year 1823.) 



