SM' SURVEY OF THE GANGBS. 



river; and falls from the summit, upon a projecting ledge, about tw© 

 liLindred feet high, where it divides into two streams, whic-h descend in 

 drifting showers of spray, upon a bed of snow, where the particles 

 immediately become congealed. The -small quantity that dissolves, 

 midermines the bed; whence it issues, ;iii a ^small stream, about two 

 hundred paces below. This place forms the boundary .ef the pilgrims* 

 devotions; fSome few come hither for thepurpose of being sprinkled by 

 this holyishower bath. 



From this spot, the direction of the A'lacanandd is perceptible to the 

 S. W. extremity of the valley, distant about one mile ; but its current is 

 entirely concealed, under immense heaps of snow, which have most 

 probably been accumulating for ages, in its channel Beyond this point, 

 travellers have not dared to venture ; and, although the Sdstras mention 

 a place called Alacctpura'^ whence the river derives its sraurce and name, 

 the position or existence of it is as much obscured in doubt and fable, as 

 every other part of their mythological history^ 



Haying now attained the limits prescribed for Lieut, Webb's iric|ui- 

 ■ries in this direction, we commenced our return, and proceeded by the 

 road which leads to the town of Mdnali. In an hour and a half, we ar- 

 rived at Caldpa Gram, the beauties of which were not perceptible from 

 the opposite side of the river. From the summit of this hill, a large 

 ^stream, called the jS^ra^w^/f Nadi^ appears to force a passage, through 

 ;a rocky cavern ; whence it descends, with irresistible violence, in a solid 

 ^compact body, disclosed to the height of forty or fifty feet The breadth 

 of the cavity may be twenty-five or thirty feet ; and s-ome large frag- 

 ments, that have been thrown down by the earthquake, are collected, and 



Alacd is the fabulous city of Cuyje'.eAj tlie Pluxus of Mmdu mjiMlogy. .H. C 



