10 METHOD OF PASSING RIVERS. 



roots floating down them, or even were it to strike 

 against a sand-bank, it would bedashed to pieces : 

 breaking a few of the pots, when laden, would put 

 it off its equilibrium, and cause the others to fill 

 with water and sink the raft.* 



Many travellers, and also cattle, are lost every 

 year in crossing these rivers when nearly 

 dry; they fall suddenly, and become beds of 

 quick-sand; it then sometimes happens that tra- 

 vellers and cattle are stuck in them ; at the time 

 they fill again, which is often so rapid that 

 the people have no warning or time to escape, it 

 has very much the appearance of the bore of the 

 tide coming into a river. A great number of 

 people, chiefly pilgrims, are destroyed on this road 

 in the hot season, for want of water to allay their 

 thirst. It is much to be lamented that more wells 

 are not dug and reservoirs formed near this road 

 through the jungles. I am satisfied that our 

 Indian Government is not aware of the necessity 



* When the rivers are partly full and are fordable, 

 before attempting to cross them, it is a necessary precaution 

 to ascertain if they are filling- rapidly, which may be done 

 by sticking a twig into the bank ; if they are rising, it would 

 be imprudent to venture into them. 



