514 ROUTE FROM CATHMANDU, IN NEPAL, 



mountain's base you travel over a stony flat of half a cos, and then reach 

 the river Achd-tugd. The width of this river is about forty feet, and its 

 depth about seven feet, and its course from north towards the east. 

 Its bed is stony and its current violent. The passage is effected in a 

 large canoe managed by four men, who are placed there by the Nepal 

 government. The traveller's resting place is a thatched house, which was 

 erected by Paniju Naik, a Neivdr, who is agent for the Nepalese com- 

 merce, and resides at Lahassa, the capital of JBhot. 



4th Stage to Parabasi: seven cos. From Paniju-dungd you move 

 along the shoulders of mountains and through thick forests, for four cos, 

 to the " Kshatriyas Dharmas&lti," where you halt awhile and take some- 

 thing to eat, and then proceed three cos further over such a road as that 

 you have just passed, reaching the village of Parabasi late at night 

 Parabasi is full of Brahmans. There are also many workers in iron at 

 Parabasi, the village being a chief foundery of cannon-balls for the 

 Gorkha state. The whole of this stage is sprinkled with population and 

 cultivation. 



5th Stage, of three cos, to Churku. The whole road lies along the 

 shoulders of mountains. At Churku is a stone-faced tank, ten paces 

 broad, and as many long, and in depth up to a man's chest. The water 

 is extremely hot, and emits a most offensive sulphureous odour ; but to 

 the taste it is salt. It is esteemed highly effective in curing the cutane- 

 ous and venereal diseases of such as bathe in it — and washing the eyes 

 with it is a sure remedy for inflammation. Drinking it is no less effica- 

 cious in removing internal complaints. The Bholiyas, when sufTe ring from 

 indigestion and other slight illnesses, come to the tank of Churku, with 

 flesh of buffaloes, sheep and goats, which they fling into the water, where 

 it is soon boiled, (such is the heat of the water) and then eat it. Churku, 

 means, in the Bhotiya language, hot-water. On the side of this tank is 



