^M 



'2 ACCOUNT OF A JOURNEY to the Sources of the 



This afcent from Sunapali^ to Dig Dhar is deep and irregular, lead- 

 iBg over many high peaks, and continues along the brnik of a very 

 deep precipice, the bottom of which was hovv^ever not in vievf, from 

 the thick fog that filled the valhes and enveloped the heighths ; our 

 path is good but tirefomc, from dipping and aicending frequently. 

 Bender-puch'h lies on our left hand. 



w;hen fljing, his bick uncovered by the wings, (hews whi(e; and he fixeads a tail ot mldiih broivn feathers. 

 Has note is a pecu'iar and very mtjlow wliillk; he frequents the bighcft, coldcfi, and leaft ace ffible peaks i 

 and it apjieais ihac the higher wc afcend, ond the nearer we approach the faow, the more frequcnily ihey 

 a;e mtt witbj ihe more numeryus they a:e. In to-day's maKh, we liiiveiound more than on any preceding 

 one; but they cannot be coi fide red as at all abundant. . The hen bird is of a fpeckled brown colour, a little 

 larger ihan the Heath hen> {iht km&\c <if the black nr wood gioufe,) and has much of her appearance* 

 Iheir flelh> pajttcularly (hit of ihe young ones, is very delicue, and has much of ihe game flivour. 



Mo game, of any forts is found in plenty in thefe remote hills j nnr in fafl, are any fpecies of animil in 

 s wild Hate Teen in iiny abundatic-: j but there ate feveral forts of deer now' and then met wi:h, arid of thefs 

 peihapg the nufideer is the moll reaiaik.ible. They are f.arcer even than other kindtj, becaufe ihe valusibJe 

 dtug ihey aff rd, tenders diem an objei^ of more eager requeft. 



The mu.ikj it is well known, is contained in a lii^uid Rate in a bag, at or near :he nayel of the anima!, sn^ 

 is taken fr ^m it juft as it is fuund, with that part of the ikin attached in which the bag is formed. A fmall 



'bjllow ftitk is introdticed, commutiicating ::ir to the muik, till it diitf, and the whi ie is tied round with a 

 fincw of ihc animal. ,In ihis ftaie ;he vvhole (called a « iinife nafa ur .nsiif}; pod") is fdd ;. Ikin, xw-f^ zxA 

 alJj for about twice its weight in f:ivers and is very highly prized in the country. It is faidj that the bag 

 containing the mulk, muft be exirafted' fro^m tfee anima], .while yet alive ; as, if. he dies^ oi is killed, it diffi^ 

 patesj or is icabfoibed into his body, th rcfure he is never {hot, but fnared alive, and it is common, when 

 it is known, that a .ir>ulk, deer is on. a reighbouiing hill,, to turn cut the count;y to haunt him down. From 

 she great value of'ihis c mmodity, it is.natural to fuppofe that it is fre.quentiy adulterated, and accordingly 



; {lu9 is done by injecting a portion of the animals bio('d into. the bag, while :he mulls is yet liqnido Thus in 

 puichafiiig this drug, much cautii n is requifite. It has been fiid, that the quami y p oduced of this- dru^o fs 

 fmall I the mi;ik pi'ds are coii).monly,fenj to the chief or taja, eiiticr as prtfents <or at a.icertain rate, in lieu 

 of fo much tril ae, A fraall part is bought by the low cuptry merchants, whofind their way to the hillf, 

 and who receive mtrili, opium, iron, &c. &c. in return f-r the cloth, fjgar, &-c. which they bring | liur, ore 

 the whole, there ciin be no gfcat annual fuppiy; and if the hills to the fouth caftward pr >duce the animal 

 ia no greater abundsnce than. thofe thai lie between the Alacananda and Setlej, the market can uever be 

 fupplied, far lefs g!u ted, with genuine jBulko 



Another fort cii deer is called by ihe natives the gurt''!, snd this is the only fort that has fallen under ouff 

 own bbfcrvation. -It is da'k brown and of the fce of a roe-buck, and has horns refembiing that animal's^ 

 £rom.6 inches to a fotit in length, fiiarpat their poinis, and rough at the lower extremities: it is extremely 

 8d\ive, asd was on^y feen upon imprailicable precipices. 



Of other animals we only faw she horns, and weie informed of their exidence upnn enqu'ry, fo which u.'e 

 ,wete led by feeing thefe horns in large numbers hung up, in, and about 'heir temples 'J his is a uniyerfal 

 cnft(Ora>.and every, fpecies of animal ihat canries fcch .,?s^,eapQuJ .conli ibuces to thus otnamenting thefe huly piso 



