■SUPvVEY OF THE GANGES, 475 



into tb3. ground, about three feet asunder, with "a cross bar, in the form 

 of a gallows. One of these is erected on each bank of the river, and 

 twelve or fourteen thick ropes divided equally to both sides, leaving a 

 space of about one foot in the centre, are stretched over the scaffolds, 

 and fixed into the ground by means of large wx^oden piles. These ropesi 

 form the support of the bridge, which descnbe&'ia datinary curve," with 

 the lower part, or periphery j at a greater or 'less elevation from the water, 

 according to the height of the bank, • About two feet below them, a 

 rope ladder is thrown horizontally across, and laced with cords to the 

 the upper ropes, which form the parapet, when the bridge is completed^ 

 The lirst passage of so unsteady a machine, is very apt to produce a 

 sensation of giddiness. The motion of the passengers causes it to 

 swing from one side to the other, while the current, flowing with immense 

 rapidity below, apparently encreases the effedl. The steps are composed 

 of small twigs, about two and an half, and sometimes three feet asunder; 

 and are frequently so slender as to give an idea cf weakness, which na- 

 turally induces a person to place his chief dependence on, the supporting 

 ropes or parapet, by keeping therri steady under his arms. The passage, 

 however, is so narrow, that if a person is coming from the opposite quar- 

 ter, it is necessary that one should draw himself entirely to one side, to 

 allow the other to pass ; a situation very distressing to a novice. The' ri- 

 ver at this place is about thirty yards in breadth,"and the stream very ra- 

 pid. Four men are employed in keeping the bridge iri constant repaij', 

 for which they are allowed a smallportion of lanci', exclusive of a mea- 

 sure of grain, which they receive form each zemindar of the neighbour- 

 ing villages at the time of the harvests. -< r,^:::^:\ ■.. 



The town of Bdrahat by no means atiswered the expeci^ation w^ iiad form*. 



