24 



cation of that metal, of great importance: had we wanted confirma- 

 tion of this report from our guides, the large masses of ferruginous 

 matter we saw on approaching the hills would have been a 

 sufficient evidence. On attaining the summit we opened on a 

 prospect of an amazing extent of mountains or hills, though not 

 one was entirely detached from another; we found ourselves 

 afterwards suddenly descend to a great depth by one of the most 

 perpendicular roads I ever passed, partly over loose stones, but 

 more over smooth rocks, slippery as glass, on which our horses 

 might literally be said to slide down, in a very dangerous manner. 

 This brought us into a valley with a little verdure, which was soon 

 succeeded by rocky hills and immense masses of solid rock; the 

 whole forming the bed of a river, which in a few places afforded stag- 

 nant water, to which we eagerly hastened, that our exhausted cattle 

 might refresh themselves: we found it so strongly impregnated 

 with iron as to be scarcely drinkable. All the surrounding rocks 

 contained ore, of which we carried off several specimens, as the 

 produce of the iron rocks in the Gwalicr purgunna. In the midst 

 of these unfrequented wilds 1 discovered a hole in one of the 

 rocks: thinking it might lead to an excavation of sculptured 

 rocks like the Elephanta, and possibly throw some light on the 

 scene, I ascended a rugged and sleep height, and to my great 

 disappointment found only a wretched hole, just large enough 

 for its inhabitant, a poor half-starved fakeer, passing his life in 

 solitude and penance. 



Proceeding from thence we ascended another rocky eminence, 

 and beheld a pleasant valle} r , in which stood the large walled 

 town of Berye, with its ghurry or citadel, the ruins of some old 



