^00 : ACCOUNT Of 1 JOURNEY to the Sources of the 



Sudden flu61iiations of the fize of the river are very common \\/ith^*- 

 Out any immediately appareiitcaufesi and they are to be looked for 

 in the changes of the atmofphere, v/hich take place very rapidly, in • 

 thefe hills, and have a fpeedyefFeft on the fnoWj and confequently ori ^ 

 the many fources of the river j partial falls of rain too occafion a i 

 quick, but momentary rile, . Even when low, the dangers of the. path >: 

 are confiderable, and I am eonfidentj that by this road, it would be - 

 impoffible to reach theplacCj v/as the river at all higher than we found 

 it. Though trifling in detail, the obftacles are numerous and ferious 

 in pra<5lices and it is the firft day's march we have made, where I thought^ 

 the danger and difficulty con fiderablco 



When we arrived at the village, enquiry was made refpe8ing the- - 

 route to Gungotri, and it appeared their were two ways. The one 

 would carry us back 3 day's march on the road we came, and cro fling 1 

 the country between the Jumna, ?iud Ganges, where it is narrow, would ■ 

 take us to Barahdt on the banks of the Bhdgirat'bi ; this would occupy ' 

 4 days, and Gungotr'i is called 8 more from them^ but the road is-very 

 eafy, and provifions .and, necelTanes plenty. 



: The othef road it is faid goes over- a high country, through fnoWj . 

 it was firft called four days, but now allowed to be only 3 day's journey ' 

 from hence to the next inhabited fpot ; the whole way defert and ^ 

 dreary,. but ..perfedly pradicable. But both Govi nd Bh i sht, the Seana ^ 

 of the villages and all the zemindars who knew the path earnellly dif« - 

 uaded me from making'the attempt.- They -fay^ that during the. chief ■» 

 p 3 rt of two day's marchj in crofling a high fnov/y hill; they meet a - 

 poifon in the air, which fo affe61s the travellers, particularly thofe who ■ 

 carry loads J that they become fenfelefs, lay down, and are incapable 

 of .modon. They cannot account for this phosnomenon; but believe 



