﻿So NARRATIVE OF A ROUTE 



the earlieft opportunity of performing it; and he did 

 not doubt, it would have all the effeti that could be 

 delired. Having fatisfied the Gautca's prejudice irt 

 this matter, he ireadily promifed to render me every 

 affiltance in his power, with the villagers, in the 

 morning. , 



Feb. 20th. I fet out to afcend Ootnagaut^ and, after 

 proceeding about a mile, arrived at the foot of it; 

 where I found the Chohans had already been at work, 

 with, my lafcars and coolies^ to render it acceffible. 

 Having unloaded the cattle, we began to afcend a very 

 fleep and rugged hill, making an angle with the horizon 

 of about 75 degrees.. The ftones in it are placed fome- 

 w'nat like Heps, and upon thefe, men, and cattle, are 

 oblii^ed carefully to place their feet, and remove them 

 from ftone to ftone. In two places, where the afcent 

 was very fteep, and the ftones far afunder, it was very 

 dangerous; but by the united exertions of l\\tfepoys, 

 followers, and Chohans^ we had the good fortune to 

 furniount every diihculty, and to reach the top of the 

 gaut without accident. Being much fatigued by the 

 exertion, we only proceeded about two miles further, 

 and encamped in the foreft near a rocky hole in a 

 fmall vulla^ that was full of water. The Chohans^ who, 

 during our fhort intercourfe with them, had become 

 acquainted with us, now brought in fmall quantities- 

 of grain to barter; and I at length prevailed on the 

 Gautea to provide us with two g\iidcs, to accompany 

 us on the following m.orning. 



Feb. 2ift. Our route this day was continued over 

 craggy rocks; fometimes in deep gulleys and defiles, or. 

 on the edge of the precipices. I met with only one hut, 

 which had been defertcd, until wc arrived at the vil- 

 lage of Mi^w;'^, where I perceived the inhabitants pack-, 

 ing up their property, and hurrying away: nor was it 

 till after three hours had pafled in endeavours to pacify 

 them, that we could get any of them to come near us. 



However 



