SURVEY OF TH-E Ganges. ms 



called Man ah, situated at the foot of a mountain, whieh; by an inclination 

 to the N. W. bounds the valley in its N. E. 'dirediion. The hill 

 is composed of rock, and covered with large loose fragments, which 

 seem to threaten destmction to the houses placed at the foot of it. 

 It is called Caldpa Gram; and, as every rock in this neighbourhood 

 is sanctified by some holy tradition, this place is distinguished as the 

 residence of Surya-Vansi and Chandra-Faust, the patriarchs of the tvvo' 

 races of Rajputs. From hence we proceeded, along the banks of the Ala- 

 canandd/m the direction of W, N. W. The breadth of the current is 

 here considerably decreased, not exceeding eighteen or twenty feet ; the 

 stream shallow, and moderately rapid. At the distance of four furlongs, 

 "we crossed the river, over a bed of snow, and mounted on the opposite 

 bank, whence we descended into another valley, in which we continued 

 our route, for two or three miles, passing over several deep beds of 

 snow,, collected in the cavities of water courses and ravines. The north ' 

 faces of the mountains, to the south of the river, were completely covered 

 with snow, from the sunimit to the base ; and the bleak aspect of the 

 country, with the sharp piercing wind, gave the appearance and sensa- 

 tion of the depth of winter, in a much more northern latitude. When 

 the surface of the mountains was, partially disclosed, the soil was of a hard' 

 solid rock ; and, excepting at the base, not a vestige of verdure or %Tge- 

 tation was to be seen. The breadth of the valley is about five or six 

 hundred yards ; a small space of it is laid out in field, but the sides of the 

 mountains are too sfeep and abrupt to carry the cultivation beyond the 

 low ground, and are accessible only to the sheep and goats, that are seen 

 browzing, a short distance up the slope. At twelve o'clock, we reached 

 the extremity of our journey, opposite to a water fall called Barsu 

 Dhdf'd. It is formed in the cleft of a high mountain, to the N. of the 



