JOURNEY TO SIRINAGUR. 535 



Ruhilla expedition, and noticed the knowledge 

 the EngU.sli possess in the art of war with achiii- 

 lation, and as unequalled by any other nation. He 

 begged to be indulged witli a sight of the exercise as 

 practised by our troops, and the little party of 

 sepoys with me performed it, much to his amuse- 

 nienf and satisfaction. 



After a stay of about an hour, the evening being 

 far advanced, I took my leave. 



Tlie valley of Sirinagur extends abo ut a m lie ah 

 a half to the eastward, and as much to the westward 

 of the town. The river Aluhmndra enters the val- 

 ley near a village called Setrkote, which bears E. » N. 

 from the town. Its course is nearly from east to 

 west ; the breadth of the channel from bank to bank 

 about 250 yards ; but in the dry season it does not 

 exceed eighty or 100 yards. At the western extre- 

 mity of the valley, the current strikes with violence 

 against the stony base of the mountain. Near this 

 place, the river is crossed by means of a contrivance 

 called here a joolah. Two scaffolds are erected in 

 form of a gallons, one on each side of the stream : 

 over these are stretched very thick ropes, to form, 

 on each hand, a support for the rest of the bridge. 

 To these, by means of pendant ropes, a ladder is 

 fixed horizontally, and over this tottering frame the 

 travellers pass. The main ropes are so slack that tliQ 

 middle of the bridge is within a foot of the water, 

 its breadth will barely admit of two persons abreast. 

 The current beneath runs with rapidity, and it would 

 be dangerous even to a good swimmer, to fall from 

 this bridge into the river. The breadth of the stream, 

 at this part, is about eighty yards, and its depth 

 from ten to twenty feet. 



Its bed is composed of large rounded stones, peb- 

 bles, gravel, and sand. In two or three places, large 



fragments 



