SURVEY OF THE GANGES. 605 



of failure ; for had any life remained, the head was to have been severed 

 from the body, to be offered up, as a sacrifice, or atonement, to tlie 

 offended spirit. This superstitious custom obtains, in many parts of the 

 hills ; and is generally resorted to, after a bad harvest. 



About four o'clock in the evening, came on a violent squall from the 

 north- vs^est, attended with rain, which lasted for a couple of hours. The 

 day had been excessively hot; and the thermometer stood, in the tent, 

 at 101*. The storms, at this season of the year, may be considered 

 periodical, at this place ; for we had ej^perienced them, in a less or 

 greater degree, every evening, since our arrival; and the inhabitants 

 informed us, that for this and the ensuing month, the day regularly 

 closed with one. 



On the i8th, after repeated messages to the chief, Shista Tapah, it 

 was at length settled, that the same establishment should proceed with 

 lis ; and the rates of hire were fixe^, by contract, from Bhadri J^dtk to 

 Almora. 



. The balance due on the last, and the necessary advance of the new 

 agreement, having been sent to Shista Tapah, the requisite Perwdnas 

 Were made out, and stamped with the seals of the three chiefs. In the 

 morning, we were joined by the party from Gangatn, who all returned 

 in health and spirits. The sequel of their journey, after quitting us, was, 

 by their account, a series of difficulties and hair breadth escapes, which 

 were no doubt a little exaggerated ; but what greatly tended ta obstruct 

 their progress, v/as the heavy rain, for three or four days successively, 

 which iattended them in their outset. Two days before their arrival at 

 Gangotn, they were overtaken by a fall of snow, which occasioned no 

 small alarm and inconvenience to the party, none of wJiom had ever 



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