Rivers, GANGES AND JUMNA. 133 
m f 
of the mountain, with occasional strong ascents and descents; 1. 5. 
of very steep descent into a dell, the-rest lighter descent, flat and ascent 
from a rivulet to Lak’ha Mandal, on the right bank of the Jumna, and 
about 300 feet above it. 
Lak’ha. Maral is a place.of some celebrity, in, Hindu story, as hav- 
ing been one of the temporary residences of the Padus; and tradition 
says, that formerly there were a great number of statues and, temples 
here, but I imagine the greater part to have been buried by the slip of 
the side of the mountain, at the foot of which it is situated. —Several 
pieces of cornices, entablatures, and other ornamental. fragments of 
buildings, are seen projecting above the soil, which buries the remainders 
they are of black stone, and the carving of the ornaments.is very well 
executed. There are also two statues of Buim and Argun, of the size 
of life, which are half buried in. the soil; and a prodigious number of 
small idols are deposited in a little temple, which is the only one now 
remaining, and which does not appear to be of any remote antiquity.— 
Tie ignorant Brahman could give no account of the builder ; he declared, 
as they all do, when consulied on such subjects, that itis not of human 
workmanship, but was built by Buis, countless ages ago. 
Ir does not appear that pilgrims now resort here; the place is nearly 
desolate; itis surrounded by high rocky peaks, and may have been chosen 
as a fit seat for gloomy and recluse superstition. 
Witsin the temple, there is a large slab of blue stone, inscribed with 
L 1 
