JUMNA AMD BHAGIRATHI RIVERS. , 175 



jrepofe given us was in a fquare, inclofed with a high wall, containing a 

 temple to Maka,' Deo, who, as we approach the facred places, and the 

 wild fnowy peaks, his peculiar refidence, is worfhipped with almost ex- 

 clusive devotion ; the temple was neat, much in the fame ftyle as thofe 

 'ijfually met with among the hills, with Chinefe over hanging roofs, 

 cmuch carved wood work ; and the doors covered with carved 

 brafs The village has the appearance of having once been more confi- 

 -derable.; the chief jzemindar or Sea7ia' (asheds called) when queftioned 

 with regard to its population, averred that it had bur 28 houfes, and 

 rmight contain about too inhabitants; but his anfwers were lieiitating, 

 ^obfcure and prevaricating; and I fufpect he believed that the queftions 

 .put were preparatory to fome'afieifmcnt or tax;, which prevented the 

 ..truth fro mi being told. 1 fhould have thought the village mull have 

 '.contained full 250 inhabitants ; it is not exadlly a part of any purgunnahj, 

 ibut in fome meaiurC; is attached. to /?^r<;^<?72. 



At 7 o'clock next morning we iefc Banc haul/, and proceeded flili 

 along the left hand face ©f the hill above the Jumna, ioWomng the deep 

 • mdentings, and long rounds of the vallies, wirh various irregular afcents 

 and defcents,. till, by a very rough and clambering path, we 

 ireached the top of Gangam-Q-DAa'T, in a point called Gangani* 

 '€a-G'ha't. This balcony is very highly elevated, and commands both 

 upwards and downwards, a mod extenfiveand noble view, though par- 

 tially obfcured by clouds. From hence we obtained the firfl; diilin^l view 

 of Bender Puclih, the moun-ain, from a part of which the Jumna has 

 its rife ; it fhews in two grand peeks, both very white in fnow, and of 

 great magnitude and height. The bed of the ^awj/7^ looking down- 

 wards, is narrow, deep and rocky, fave where the few green fpots 

 -around Lakha man'dal, rthevG the eye ; upwards it runs in a far more 

 ■fertile country, with table land and cultivation on its banks and feveral 

 vViUages; while the hills Hope m-ore eafily down to the level part, co- 



