COLOSSAL IMAGE 105 



river may perhaps rise many feet in a night, the only 

 indications being a shght discolouration a few hours 

 before. They are occasioned by the melting of the 

 snow in the mountains. 



Mr. KricheldorfT and I now had our heads shaved, 

 and got into Chinese clothes, including an artificial tail 

 which was secured inside the cap. These we found to 

 be very cool and comfortable, but the chief advantage 

 we gained was, that when so dressed, little or no atten- 

 tion was paid to us by the mob. 



I was unable to visit the town at all on this occasion 

 for the reason stated before, and am therefore unable to 

 say anything about it. On the opposite side of the 

 river there is a colossal image cut out of the red sand- 

 stone. It is seated, with the hands on the knees, and 

 must be at least 150 feet high. The head is overgrown 

 with creepers, and small trees have taken root and are 

 growing. These will, in course of time, utterly destroy 

 the work, but as yet the outline can be distinctly 

 traced. 



Two days before I intended to leave, the Tao-tai 

 ■came down with his stafi of about fifteen attendants, 

 -all most richly dressed, himself in particular wearing a 

 navy blue satin tunic, covered with the most beautiful 

 •embroidery in different coloured silks. There was not 

 room for all, but he came on board and informed me 



