4 BHOTIA MEHALS 



materials, than are commonly given by the Zemindars of other parts of 

 the province, to such erections. In the early part of the season, natural 

 bridges of snow, formed from the accumulation of avalanches, abound, 

 more particularly in the upper part of the Ghats, where the stream is 

 invisible during much of its course. 



The frequency of mountain slips, " Paira," renders the preservation 

 of the road an object of constant toil to the Bhotias. By accidents of 

 this nature, the course of the river is sometimes completely blocked up 

 for two or three successive days, and every part of the path-way, within 

 its reach, is swept away by the accumulated torrent, not an atom of soil 

 being left on which to found a new road ; on forming the latter, a deviation 

 from the old line and level, becomes necessary in consequence. 



The passes, taking their whole extent, maybe said to be barely prac- 

 ticable. The Bhotias travel through them without difficulty under burthens, 

 but natives of other quarters of the hills are compelled, in many places, to 

 proceed with the utmost caution, even without loads ; at such points ani- 

 mals of every description require the assistance of manual labor ; the larger 

 kinds, such as poneys and cattle, are raised or lowered, according to the 

 nature of the obstruction, by means of slings passed round their bodies. 



Comparatively speaking, the Niti is considered as the best, the 

 Jmvar as the most difficult pass in this province. A tradition is here 

 current, that when Shot was originally conquered by the Kamaon power, 

 a road was formed by the invading army to facilitate its progress 

 through the Ghat; this operation, the commander (Raja Baz Bahader 

 Chand) is said to have personally superintended, paying a rupee with 

 his own hand, for every cup full of earth brought to the spot. This tale 

 doubtless partakes of the usual style of Eastern hyperbole, but it is 



deprived 



