1848.] Narrative of a Journey to Cho Lagan, fyc. 99 



their country by the bearded Sikhs in 1841. The hurried way in which 

 deponent was hustled through Pruang prevented his observing any- 

 thing worth record. 



Fakir No. 2. — A Jogi, black with dirt, and half fool ; he accordingly 

 met a better reception than the Sunyasi, and was allowed to extend his 

 pilgrimage to Kailas without hindrance ; yet he was a year in Byans 

 before he could effect his entrance into Pruang ; for last season there 

 was an absolute interdict against all Fakirs, and a companion of the 

 Jogi then returned in despair, without accomplishing the object for 

 which he had come from the uttermost parts of India. Deponent says 

 that Hundes is a " Bahut sundar jagah ; per nahn, — ghds nahin, — 

 siwd pathar aur baraf kuchh nahin!"* beyond which he can give no 

 lucid information. 



These pilgrims are said to be the only two who have succeeded in 

 reaching Manasarowar, via Byans, during the last two years ; — encou- 

 raging for me, the third ! 



Kela, \bth Sept. — 15 days from Almora, might have been done 

 in 10, but for the great heat in the low vallies and a touch of 

 sickness (partly caused by that) which precluded much exertion, 

 detaining me also three days at Petoragarh. The valley of the 

 Kali proved not quite so bad as my apprehensions ; the first part 

 is certainly low and hot enough, the jungle dense and rank in the 

 extreme, grass and wild hemp ten feet high, through which we had to 

 butt, heads down, in places where the path had not been cleared ; Sal, 

 Sissoo and Toon trees, with wild Plantains and Cucumbers, denoting a 

 very tropical climate. But this does not extend much beyond the mid- 

 dle of the second stage; at Dharchula, (2750 feet above the sea, b. t.), 

 the valley expands into a pleasant level, well cleared of jungle, and 

 cultivated with rice. The scenery hereabouts is fine, the valley flanked 

 by noble hills, on the west side by the base of Chipuld. Thence on to 

 Kela is not quite so clear and open, but the ground rises gradually into 

 a cooler climate ; the road all the way easy. Relagarh, a ravine with 

 a small stream, forms the boundary between the Iidjbdri of Askot and 

 the district of Kela. 



The village of Kela comprises a good extent of well cultivated land, 

 terraced out of a huge hill side that rises in a steep uniform slope for 

 * i. e. very beautiful place, no trees, no qrass, nothing- but rock and snow. 



o 2 



