474 SURVEY OF THE GANGES. 



the rains leaving only a proje6ling stone to rest the foot upon. In these 

 situations, and indeed during the whole of the march, a tremendous preci« 

 pice was open on the outer side ; and, for the greater part of the way, we 

 found it necessary to avail ourselves of the assistance of the bearers, to 

 condu6l us by the hand. The smoothness of the stone in some places, 

 and the dry leaves often strewed over the path, rendered it so slippery, 

 that we judged it expedient to take off our boots, to maintain a footing.. 

 To those who may hereafter be inclined to pursue this track, it may not 

 be an unnecessary precaution, to go provided with netted sandals, or socks 

 of a texture sufficiently thick, to guard the feet from the sharpness of 

 the stones. 



On our entrance into the valley, we saw vines, with the fruit beginning 

 to form, and a few plants of asparagus. , 



23d. Marched to Bdrdhat'. Distance about seven and an half miles. 

 Latitude by observation 30® 45' 3o" N. Thermometer in the morning 

 54|- ; but at noon in the shade 91* 



The greatest part of the road lay through a winding valley, and we 

 crossed two streams which fall into the Bhdgirat'In, 



At the village of Juswdra is a bridge over the Bhdgirafhi -oi the kind 

 called Jhula, the first we had yet seen in our travels. 



Tbere are several kinds of bridges constructed for tiie passage of strong 

 currents and rivers, but the most common are the Sdngha and Jhula. 

 The former consists of one or two fir spars, thrown from bank to bank, 

 or from, one large rock to' another; but, where the extent is too gregt to 

 Recovered in this mode, they substitute the Jhiila or rope bridge, which 

 i^ made in the following manner. A couple of strong posts are driven 



