iSf SURVEY OF THE GANGES. 



©pposlte side of the river. From hence, also, we saw two cagca<!es,. falling 

 from the top of the same mountains, into the Bhagirat'hz/ We noW 

 began to descend, and in fifteen minutes, by a rugged path, we reached 

 the banks of the Cajani Madi;, which we crossed and again halted. 



The impediments and fatigue we and our people had experienced, in 

 making a progress of three or four miles, through that part of the road 

 which was considered the least obstructed, but which, upon trial, we 

 found to be not only difficult but dangerous, naturally excited the appre- 

 hension, that our inquiries in this direction, could not be prosecuted without 

 the greatest risk.; and we consulted what, in the present circumstances, 

 would be the best course to adopt ;, 



We were now within six or seven days Journey of the place which is 

 called Gangotn; and to relinquish it, when almost within our reach, was 

 very contrary to our incHnations ; although the information which Lieut, 

 Webb, Captain Hearsay and myself had been able to obtain, of the 

 source of the Bhdgirafht, and of the existence of the cow's mouth, en-= 

 tirely removed all our doubts on the subjeft. From the appearance of 

 th& river itself , which becomes contra6led in its stream, and from the 

 stupendous height of the Jf/mi/^j'^ mountains, whence it flows ; there can 

 be no doubt but its source is situated in the snowy range ; and any other 

 hypothesis can scarcely be reconciled to hjdrostatical principles. The 

 pilgrims, and those people in the vicinity of this place, who gain a liveli- 

 hood by bringing water from the spot, say that the road beyond Gango- 

 tn is passable only for a few miles, when the current is entirely concealed 

 under heaps of snow, which no traveller ever has or can surmount. 

 With respect to the Cozu's Mouth, we 'had the most convincing testimony 



