FLOODS. 227 



a considerable river ; the bridge was carried 

 away, and so stupid were the natives, that 

 we could scarcely succeed in finding out from 

 them another road, where a bridge might be 

 left standing by the flood. I never saw such 

 a torrent, as that rolling do^vn this river — a 

 mass of water as black as ink, with waves on 

 its surface, like the sea in a gale of wind. 

 The bridge over a tributary stream, had 

 shared the fate of those over the larger river, 

 but by evening, it was repaired sufficiently, to 

 enable us to cross, and encamp near the high 

 bridge, which still remained standing. 



For several days, we kept our direction as 

 well as we could, for there was no one to be 

 found, to point out the road, and at last crossed 

 into the Kangra valley, where we found the 

 villagers very uncivil : they would neither sell 

 us provisions, nor afford us information. 



We reached Kote Kangra on the 28th of 

 July, after a very severe march from Kooloo, 

 crossing many flooded rivers, and having 

 been wet through for the last four or five 

 days. I was lame, my foot being much 



q2 



