474 : A .JOURNEY TO LAKE 



mouths of the ftreams which empty themfelves into its bofom. At 

 a diftance its water was of an indigo blue. The eaftern leg appeared 

 about five miles in length ; of that of the fouthrn one I could form 

 no opinion, as it was loft in the mountains. The name is derived from 

 Rdwan To much famed in the Rdmdyana, and the Sanjkrit word faai 

 fignifying lake. The principal ilreams, which rife in the Cailas t > and 

 difembogue, are ift, The Siva Gangd ; 2d, Gouri Gangd; 3d, 

 Darchan Gadrdh ; 4th, Cdtydyani ; and there are many others without 

 names. It is faid to be four times as large as Mdnfardwar ; but of this I 

 can give no opinion. We have been forced to remain here all day. At 

 nine the fnow ceafed to fall, and was followed by rain that continued 

 till three. At twelve, thermometer at 62 . At fun-fet rained again; 

 thermometer 43*. About midnight the rain ceafed. 



Augufl nth. — Thermometer 42**- March ato^, over a plain which 

 is very poachy. Ouryaks 9 though very ftrong, labour through the 

 foft ground into which they frequently fink up to their bellies ; but if 

 lefc alone, would feed and wade along. Enghjh oxen would be much 

 diftreffed and frightened in fuch quaggy foil. A hail ftorm induces us 

 to halt at 9825 paces near a fmall river at three o'clock. Thermometer, 

 Even. 49 . Cailds mountain Is fuppofed to be the favorite relidence of 

 MahadevAj and is fituated oppolite to the great lake of Rdwanhrad, and 

 little diftant from that of Mdnfarowar. As its fummit is always cloth' 

 ed with fnow<, it is but a cool feat: however this cold is faid to be 

 neceflary on account of the poifon which has heated his frame ever 

 fmce he f wallowed it at the period of the Sankh Avatar, 



Augufl 12th. — Thermometer 40 . A party of people, having in 

 charge a body of about feventy yaks loaded with Jwajow in facks, 

 palled our encampment in the direction which we mean totekc. March 



