ON THE NEW ROAD. 1 1 



trees and roots floating down them, or even 

 were it to strike against a sand bank it would 

 be dashed to pieces : breaking a few c-f 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 eve- 

 ry year in crossing these rivers when nearly 

 dry; they fall suddenly, and become beds of 

 quick-sand ; it sometimes then happens that 

 travellers and cattle are stuck in them, at the 

 time when they fill again, which is often so ra- 

 pid, 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 

 which exists for them, or they would cause 



