1838.] Notes of a journey to Girndr, 879 



I could trace nothing approaching " Paleshini" in the names by which 

 the ravine is at present known ; these are the Sirsihee, Tribenee, and 

 Sonarekha, — this . latter, having some allusion to gold being found in 

 its bed, is curious. 



Although I failed to discover the slightest trace of the ancient bridge, 

 the remains of an old causeway are to be seen near the present one, 

 crossing the bed of the ravine in a diagonal direction. It is only 

 traceable for a few yards, but appears to have been connected with 

 some former extensive work of the kind, as it is again to be seen for a 

 short extent beyond the modern causeway towards Junagarh. From the 

 Damodar Kund and temples the Girndr road winds through thick 

 jungle, the ascent commencing at the foot of the western spur or 

 shoulder*. Here it is necessary to quit the horse, and take to a rude, 

 but very convenient conveyance for the purpose ; consisting of a small 

 square seat, suspended from two short poles and carried by four men. 

 After a winding and rugged ascent of about a mile, the shoulder termi- 

 nates at the foot of the scarp, where is a small dharamsdla and 

 halting-place. Up to this point, the Girndr is connected with the 

 lower range, and its sides, together with the gorges and the valleys 

 of the hills beneath, are richly clothed with a most luxuriant jungle, 

 diversified only with the black rocks, which occasionally appear through 

 the trees and vegetation. But for the rest of the ascent, the sacred 

 mount rises an immense, bare, and isolated granite rock, presenting all 

 the gigantic masses peculiar to that formation. The whole face of the 

 rock is quite black, with occasional white streaks, probably of felspar. 

 The sides to the north and south are nearly perpendicular scarps ; on 

 the extreme point of the northern side is an immense pillar or boulder, 

 which seems as it were poised on its pinnacle, requiring only a slight 

 force to dislodge it. This pillar is sometimes the scene of self- 

 sacrifice, and is hence called the Beiru Jhap or leap of deathf. The 

 noted Jain temples occupy a small ledge or table land surmounting 

 the scarp, and the wall of a kind of fort, which is erected round them, 

 is immediately on the edge of the rock. As seen from below, their 

 apparently very diminutive size has a curious effect. From the dha- 



* The whole distance from the commencement of the ascent to the summit of 

 the Girndr, I found to be 4691 yards, or two miles, five furlongs, and 71 yards. 

 Its perpendicular height above the level of the sea, is said to be 2500 feet ; but 

 this, I had not the means of determining. 



f The belief appears to be, that the victim will secure to himself the rank of 

 raja in the next stage of his existence. The immense number of eagles which 

 sail round this pillar and the scarp, add much to its apparent height. A poor 

 wretch had sacrificed himself only a few days before our arrival. 

 5 s 



