552 Journal in the Sub-Himalaya. 



blocked up by the snow, which fell on the 15th and 16th, having 

 been before open. There is another route crossing to the left bank 

 of the Sutledge here, and after proceeding two days along it, recross- 

 ing to the right bank, but we had seen enough of the rocky edge of 

 the river, and we thought it advisable to halt a day at least to enquire 

 into the matter. Thermometer at 6 a.m. 60° : at 1 1 a.m. 63° : at noon 

 65°. We are surrounded by snowy mountains, and the Shatool and 

 Brooung passes are no great distance from us, the former SW., the 

 latter South. This place we find warm or rather close, being on the 

 face of the hill, and the wind completely excluded by the mountains 

 overlooking it. The cultivation around is very strong and healthy, 

 and they have a custom, where the ground is particularly productive, 

 of building a pillar in the middle of it, plastered white with some 

 loose stones on the top, with the idea, I was told, that the ill effects 

 of the praises of passengers whose attention may be attracted by the 

 goodness of the crop, will fall upon the pillar, and be averted from 

 the grain : the people here, believing with those of the plains, that 

 admiring an object entails mischief upon it, or that certain persons 

 have an evil eye. There is a great quantity of wild garlic had here. 

 I went to the temple of Mahadeo, in which is a curious image of 

 that deity. The upper part is a cylinder, I believe, of wood, under- 

 neath, divided into fourteen or fifteen compartments, in each of 

 which is a head of gilt brass, in relief, about the size of a man's 

 hand, raised on a silver ground. They are all similar, and have a 

 kind of mitre. The ears are of silver, with ear-rings of the same, and 

 both very large. The execution is better than any thing of the kind 

 I have yet seen. There are only three faces visible. The lower part 

 which is of wood and thicker is covered with stuffed silk, and on the 

 top of the whole is a large bunch of the hair of the cow, called Chuor 

 Gao, of a brown colour. This is called the Rajah's deity, and is 

 occasionally carried to Rampoor or Sooran to visit his Excellency. 

 There is another image of the same kind, but inferior, in the same 

 temple, which is called the village deity. They have some cattle 

 here, the offspring of a cow of the country, and a bull of the species 

 called Chuor Gao (Bos grunialis) from Chowrees or fans for driving 

 away flies, being made from their tails, the hairs of which are re- 

 markably long. This half-breed is called Zo, they are fine large ani- 



