144 STATISTICAL SKETCH 



of the current. The only boat to be found within the hills is a small canoe, 

 which plies as a ferry during six months of the year at Srinagar^ on the 



Alakananda, 



The buildings of every description throughout the province are con- 

 structed of stone laid in clay. The private houses are usually of three or 

 more stories, having slated roofs with gable ends. In towns, the lower story 

 forms the shop, and is left open towards the street, but in the interior this pai't 

 is appropriated to the cattle. The wood used in buildings, is commonly some 

 description of pine ; but, where easily procurable, toon is preferred. The floors 

 are made of clay beat down : in some parts of the province, where slates are 

 not at hand, shingles, or planks of pine are substituted for them in roofing. 



The temples are nearly all built in the same style of architecture : the 

 principal part, in which the idol is placed, consists of an octagon, from ten to 

 twelve feet in diameter ; from the height of eight or nine feet, the sides are 

 made gradually to incline inwards, till they meet ; thus forming a cone, the 

 apex of which is surmounted by an ornament in the style of a Turk's cap, and 

 has, sometimes, a slight square projecting roof covered with slates or sheets of 

 copper: in one side of the octagon is the door, and from this generally projects 

 a small vestibule, having a pent roof of slate or copper, with a door of entrance 

 in the gable end. 



The BauUs, or covered fountains, are not remarkable either for their size 

 or beauty : the bounty of nature, which has furnished innumerable springs 

 on every mountain, renders excavation in search of water unnecessary, 

 and all therefore that is required is a reservoir, enclosed in a small covered 

 building, to secure the water from waste and contamination : such are the 

 BauUs, built at the expense of individuals ; a few are, however, to be met 

 with, erected by former Rajahs, which exhibit some architectural ornaments 



