j66 G a N G E T I C H I N D O O S T a N. 



Streights of ftream. The gorge into the mountain is called the llreights of 

 Kupe/i, The bloody tyrant, Tamerlane, in his invaiion of India 

 in 1399, could boaft of penetrating farther than any invader 

 ever did before. Here he found great numbers of Hindoos, 

 probably retired to this facred place ; they difperfed at his ap- 

 proach, fled into the woods, were purfued and maflacred 

 without mercy, according to the cruel fpirit of Mahometlfni, 

 ever exerted againft thofe who differed from them in reli- 

 gious matters. 



Cow's Mouth. The hiftorian of Tamerlane mentions a place, fifteen miles 



above thefe ftreights, diftinguiflied by the fculpture of a cow, 

 the animal fo highly venerated by the Hindoos, and to which 

 they refort even to this day in great numbers. The barbarian 

 found great crowds of thefe innocent people when he was 

 there : he attacked them, but met with a feeble refiflance, fo 

 that multitudes fell viilims to his cruelty. 



The upper Gangoiitra was once fuppofed to have been the 

 famous cavern called the Co'-jo's Mouth, but the opinion is now 

 laid afide : this was like the rock near which Tamerlane commit- 

 ted one of his mafTacres, and was likewife their great refort. A 

 cavern of this name, and flill greatly frequented, certainly exiils. 

 It was vifited by Father Tiefentaller, yet by the medium of Mr. 

 Rennel, through the channel of Mr. Daniell, we learn no more 

 than that it may he in a north or north-by-weft diredion from 

 Hurdwar. 



Into the Ganges flow multitudes of great rivers from each fide, 

 which give a matchlefs inland navigation. It receives in its 

 courfe through the plains eleven rivers, fome of which are equal 

 in fize to the Rhine, and none lefTer than the Thames : it maintains 



thirty 



