408 
UECOLLECTIONS OF A JOUBNEY 
where the pathway leads over a bare declivous rock, 
there are steps cut in the stone, and chains so fixed as to 
lie along the steps, for the purpose of assisting passengers 
in ascending and descending. 
About a quarter past 9 o^clock we reached the top of the 
Peak. Here we found about forty or fifty pilgrims, who 
had ascended by the Saffragam or western route. They 
were busily employed in the performance of the usual cere- 
monies, and our arrival did not appear to disconcert them 
in the slightest degree. Upon the completion of the cus- 
tomary ritual, they abruptly departed, and descended the 
mountain, without seeming to look to the right or left. 
The apex is surrounded by a wall, in which there 
are two distinct openings, corresponding to the two tracks 
by which the mountain can be ascended, one by the route 
we came, and another from the district of Saffragam. The 
area included within the wall is about S3 paces long by 18 
broad. Nearly in the centre of the area there is a large 
rock, one side of which is shelving, and can be easily 
ascended. On the top of this mass of granite there is a 
small square wooden shed, which is connected with the 
rock, as also with the outer wall, by means of heavy 
chains. The roof and posts of this little building we 
found adorned with flowers and artificial figures made 
of party-coloured cloth. The use of the shed is to 
cover the Sri pade (Holy Foot). This impression has 
been in part formed by the chisel, and partly by elevating 
its outer border with chunam (lime). In length it is about 
5| feet long, and in breadth about 2J feet. The depth is 
irregular, and varies from about li to 2 inches. Much of 
the margin of the impression, and all the elevations which 
mark the spaces between the toes, are made of lime and 
sand. A border of gilded copper, in which a few valueless 
gems are set, encircles the impression. According to the 
