SURVEY OF THE GANGES. 525 



wedged in together, at the mouth, through the interstices of which, 

 the water is seen descending from a still greater elevation. At the bot- 

 tom is a deep bason, or reservoir, composed of rock, rendered perfectly 

 smooth by the a6tion of the water. From hence, the stream flows in 

 a gentle current, between two perpendicular rocky banks, about seventy 

 'or eighty feet in height, and twenty feet in width. The water is per- 

 fectly clear, of a beautiful ultramarine colour ; which it retains for a con- 

 siderable distance, after its union with the Alacanandd, about seven 

 hundred yards below, and forms a singular constrast with the turbid 

 water of that stream. The point of junction is called Casupraydgd, 

 The passage over the Saraszvati is by a bridge, formed of one entire 

 piece of rock, about six feet in thickness, ten or twelve in breadth, and 

 so exactly fitted to the width of the stream, as to have the appearance 

 of being placed by the hands of mechanism ; and, notwithstanding the 

 assertions of our guides, we could hardly believe its position to have 

 been accidendal. This place goes by the name of Matisula Bhcd. 

 Hence we ascended the bank leading to the town, situated a little above 

 the confluence of the two streams. On the left of the road, are two or 

 tliree rocks, in the cavities of which small temples are erected. Of these, 

 the Ganesa Avatar is the most conspicuous, more from its position than 

 from the structure of the temple, which is about five feet high, and built 

 of square stones, piled one above the other, decreasing towards the top. 

 It stands in a large cavern, close to which a small stream comes rippling 

 from the mountain. 



The town of Mdnah is built in three divisions, containing one hundred 

 and fifty or two hundred houses, and is more populous than any place we 

 have met with of the same extent. Tiie number of its inhabitants is 



K (5 



