SURVEY OF THE GANGES. 559 



of the mountain, and contains thirty or forty good huts. Lat. 29" '35\ 

 10' N. 



In the commencement of this day's march, we ascended a hill, whence 

 we had a distinct view of the fort of Ldlmandi, and part of the city of 

 Almdra. The former bore S. 20 E ; and to the N. E. of it stands the 

 capital, built on the top of a large ridge of mountains. The houses are 

 much scattered, extending down the slope on each side; but oar view 

 of it was too distant to enable us to convey a more minute description 

 of the place. It is said to be more extensive and populous than Srmagar, 

 as also a place of greater traffic. The inhabitants are chiefly foreigners, 

 or descendants of emigrants from the low lands. 



On descending the hill, we arrived at a large stream, called the 

 Tonghan JVadi, which falls into the Causila, about a quarter of a mile 

 to the S, S. W. Hence there was a tolerably steep ascent for half an 

 hour, which brought us to the village of Catdrmal, inhabited principally 

 by Pataris or dancing women. Above the town, under a peak of the 

 mountain, stands a large, and apparently a very ancient temple, sacred 

 to Aditya. It is built at the W. extremity of a square, and surrounded 

 by fifty-one smaller pyramidical temples, which were formerly allotted 

 for the reception of idols ; but few of them remain in a perfect state, 

 and most of the images are withdrawn from them, and collected in the 

 principal temple. Tradition reports it to have been built by the Pdndils, 

 On a small space of flat land, adjoining to it, an annual fair is held, in the 

 month of Pausha. From hence, the city of Almdra appears directly 

 opposite, bearing S. 35 E. distant about three miles. 



22d, Therm. 73*. This evening we received the visit of Bhim Sa'hi, 

 who had left Almdra at ten o'clock in the forenoon ; but a heavy fall of 



