April, 1848. COLGONG. 95 



river is from twenty-eight to forty feet deeper than now. 

 We landed opposite the rocks, and proceeded to the resi- 

 dence of Mr. G. Barnes, prettily situated on one of the 

 conical elevations characteristic of the geology of the district. 

 The village we passed through had been recently destroyed 

 by fire ; and nothing but the clay outer walls and curious- 

 looking partition walls remained, often white-washed and 

 daubed with figures in red of the palm of the hand, 

 elephant, peacock, and tiger, — a sort of rude fresco- 

 painting. We did not arrive till past mid-day, and the 

 boat, with my palkee and servant, not having been able to 

 face the gale, I was detained till the middle of the following 

 day. Mr. Barnes and his brother proved most agreeable 

 companions, — very luckily for me, for it requires no ordi- 

 nary philosophy to bear being storm-stayed on a voyage, 

 with the prospect of paying a heavy demurrage for 

 detaining the dawk, and the worse one of finding the 

 bearers given to another traveller when you arrive at the 

 rendezvous. The view from Mr. Barnes' house is very 

 fine : it commands the river and its rocks ; the Rajmahal 

 hills to the east and south ; broad acres of indigo and 

 other crops below ; long lines of palm-trees, and groves 

 of mango, banana, tamarind, and other tropical trees, 

 scattered close around and in the distance. In the rainy 

 season, and immediately after, the snowy Himalaya are 

 distinctly seen on the horizon, fully 170 miles ;off. 

 Nearly opposite, the Cosi river enters the Ganges, bearing 

 (considering its short course) an enormous volume of water, 

 comprising the drainage of the whole Himalaya between 

 the two giant peaks of Kinchinjunga in Sikkim, and 

 Gossain-Than in Nepal. Even at this season, looking from 

 Mr. Barnes' eyrie over the bed of the Ganges, the enormous 

 expanses of sand, the numerous shifting islets, and the long 



