^UMNA and" EHAGmATHI RIVERS. 189 



'Gunga. Further to the weft ward and confiderably to our left, a range 

 confifting of many high and irregukr mafles, takes its immediate rife 

 from Damim Matha (a continuation of Bender puch'h) and forms 

 the weftera fide of the valley, doling up the view ; between this 

 range, and Dumancandiy the Jumna is formed, from mapy fources in 

 the fnov/„ The U'nta.gunga unites at the point of a level piece ©{land 

 which flretchcs from the foot of Dum.ancandi ; which latter range 

 forms thus the diviGon betw-cera the two bafons, and rivers, whiGh 

 ■ aje nearly of equal fizCo 



The naiTie o[ Bendenpuch'k 'properly applies, only to the highetl. 

 peaks of this mountain j all the fubordinate mafles have names inde- . 

 pendent ; Jumnotri has reference folely to the facred fpot, whefs 

 worfhip to the. goddefs, is performed. 



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Though only two are feen,-the top of Benderpuch^h h ', ^i^ to be- 

 formed of four peaks, in the cavity contained between v/hich tradition 

 places a lake or tank of very peculiar fanclity^ no one h 35 ever feen 

 this pool, for no one has ever attempted to afcend thefe prodigious 

 peaks, Bcfides the phyfical difficulties, there is one to be encountered 

 far more conclufive to the fuperllitious and blindly obedient Eiridu* 

 The. goddefs has efpeciall]^ prohibited any mortal to pafs that fpot ap- 

 pointed for her worfhip. A fuqeer, once in attempting to reach Jum- 

 notri loQ; his way, and continued afcending the moun^tain till he reached, 

 the fnov/, when he heard a voice enquiring what he wanted ; and upon 

 his anfwering, a mafs of fnow detatched itfelf from- the hill fide, while 

 the fame voice defired him to defcendand worfhip where that refted ; 

 that J.umna was not to be approached, or intruded on in her receffes j 

 that he fhould pubUlh this, and remrn no more under pain of death- 

 ]i i'ufpccl indeed that this prohibition is unneceifary to prevent an af-. 



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