SURVEY OF THE GANGES., 485 



fco confirm us in the idea that its existence is entirely fabulous, and that it 

 is found only in the Hindu book of faith. 



The reasons which operated to our making a retrograde motion, are 

 fully explained in Lieutenant Webb's public letter to Col. Colebrooke,* 

 and they appeared to us of sufficient weight to cause a decision in our future 

 plans. Having communicated our intentions to the coolies, we began to 

 retrace our steps ; and at five and an half reached the place which we had 

 quitted in the morning. Although we had provided ourselves with Daandis 

 as substitutes for the Jampuans, we found them equally useless ; for we 

 were forced to walk the greatest part of the way. In difficult and dan- 

 gerous passages, a person is obliged to dismount; but the conveyance itself 

 is so extremely unpleasant and inconvenient, that curiosity or necessity 



* Extract of a letter from Lehit. Webb to Lieut. Col. Colebrooke, dated Sirinagur. 



May 13, 1808. 



Determined not to relinquish the attempt, until I should be convinced that the impedi- 

 ments were of a nature to render the prosecution of my researcJies in this quarter imprac- 

 ticable, I made the necessary arrangements on my arrival at Batlieriy on the 27th ultimo, 

 •with the intent of continuing iny route, under the inconveniences and deprivations which 

 I was led to expect. 



Having left a guard in charge of the baggage, which was too heavy to be carried on, 

 I proceeded the next morning; but, in a progress of three or four miles, tlirou"-h that 

 part of the road which is considered the least obstructed, 1 found the difficulties so far 

 exceeded what had been represented, that I was fully convinced, it would be in vain to 

 persevere J and I was at length induced to return, from a consideration of the followino- 

 reasons. 



1st. Had no natural obstructions intervened, \o render the attainment of the object doubt- 

 ful, all other considerations would necessarily have given way ; but when the prospect of 

 success became uncertain, it was necessary to advert to other concurrent inconveniences, 

 ■which would attend so precarious a journey. I'he alternate changes of the weather, from 

 ■Excessive cold in the morning and evening, to oppressive heat at noon, were such as no 

 constitutions uninured to the climate could well support ; particularly utidcr the exposure to 

 which they would now be subjected; and, had any of the people fallen sick, which would 

 undoubtedly have been the case, as many of them aheatly began to feel the eliects oi this 

 day's journey ; I was unprovided with the means of bringing them away ; and (o leave them 

 in any place of security would be equally impossible, as this part of the country is quite un- 

 inhabited. 



2d,^ The information, which I liad already obtained, from some intelligent persons, who had 

 goneon the [)ilgrimnge, and from the inhabitants of />Vz<7/(';7\ many of whom gain a livelihood 

 by bringing water Iruni the spot, was of a nature lo cojivincc me that the prosecution of my 



