1837.] Journal of a Trip to the Burenda Pass in 1836. 92o 



What the discovery was he would not divulge, but from his 

 eagerness to shut that route to future travellers, it was doubtless of 

 importance. 



Particles of gold occurring in some of the hill rivers would lead to 

 the conclusion that it must exist in the rocks, through which these 

 rivers sweep, and becomes detached by the rush of waters. That 

 gold therefore, was the discovery hinted at, is neither impossible nor 

 improbable. It is certain that none but the precious metals would 

 have been worth the notice of the French government. 



The subject is perhaps worth inquiring into and research directed 

 to that quarter, might bring the hidden treasures to light. 



After breakfasting on the road at the same mill stream we had 

 stopped at in coming, we pushed on as far as Shergaon, where we 

 encamped for the night after a walk of about eight miles through a 

 lovely valley. The village of Shergaon stands at the point of con- 

 fluence of the rivers Undraitee and Pabbar. The former stream 

 rans down through a valley of rice fields, the produce of which is 

 held in much estimation and is reserved, we were told, for the use 

 of the raja of Rampore to whom the country of Busahir belongs. 

 Several of the houses in this village had small patches of flower 

 ground, and the "Marvel of Peru" with its various colored flowers 

 was very abundant. 



On the 13th of October we left Shergaon and proceeded li| miles 

 to Rilrii, intending to breakfast on the road, but so well was every 

 inch cultivated that we could find no convenient place to pitch a tent, 

 and were therefore obliged to wait till we arrived at the village ; we 

 afterwards marched four miles farther, leaving the regular road and 

 striking up again to the heights on the right of the valley. The whole 

 of the march from Shergaon to Rurd, is most luxuriant in rice crops, 

 and the appearance of the natives bespeaks abundance. 



Between these two places we met several Sikhs who reside in 

 these parts and carry on a traffic with the plains. 



Our camp was pitched near a small hill stream from which some 

 fishermen brought us a dish of delicious trouts. They catch them in 

 rather a novel manner, placing across the stream a long rod on which 

 are fastened at short intervals a number of hair nooses, into which 



that he had some curious discovery (probably of fossils) of which he would secure 

 the first honors ; and affording an amusing estimate of national curiosity. — Still 

 is it not confirmed by the fact that no Englishman has since sifted the nature 

 ot Jacquemont's interest in that spot? — Ed. 

 6 B 



