DEHRA 235 



The first indication of the undermining is the appearance 

 of a crack in the ground on the side of the rao. The crack 

 is sometimes quite close to the edge; occasionally it 

 appears at a distance of several yards; but, whether near 

 or distant, the crack generally runs more or less parallel 

 to the bank. The appearance of the crack is followed 

 by a slight subsidence of the ground between it and 

 the rao ; the subsidence increases ; eventually the whole 

 mass of soil slides into the rao and is swept away by 

 the torrent. Owing to the nature of the ground, the 

 new bank is nearly always precipitous. The area of the 

 soil thus carried away is not generally of any great 

 extent. I have, however, known of cases where it must 

 have amounted to nearly half an acre. 



As this process goes on continuously, it follows that 

 in course of ages the present surface of the slope of the 

 Doon at the base of the Himalayas will be entirely 

 swept away ; but the ground below the present surface 

 is composed of coarse gravel, sand, and boulder-stones. 

 It may take centuries before these, after disintegration 

 by the elements, become capable of supporting a 

 vegetation. During this long period, in place of the 

 present verdant forests, there will appear only a dreary 

 expanse of sterile, stony desert. 



I have spoken of the violence of the torrents that at 

 times sweep through these raos and of the suddenness 

 with which they descend. Of their suddenness and 

 violence I will give two examples. 



Once during the rainy season, at the time when I had 

 charge of the Doon, I set off one afternoon to visit a 

 village some few miles from Dehra. As the road lay 



