92* THE IliMALAr.V MOUNTAINS. 
'which I liathed mys'jlf at the proper place (which is tli* 
jiiiictioii of the two streams), while the Bi-alimin 
over me. Araon/i; the ceremonies perforraetl, he niA' 
me hold a tuR of grass while he prayed, which at 
conclusion he directed me to throw into the eddy od* 
sioned by the meeting of the two waters. , 
By an unpleasant jiatli we reached a step, or Ic)'^ 
spot on the first stage of the mountain, wliere, in a tint' 
>'TOve of fir trees, is placed a small temple to Bhyra'' ' 
a plain white building, built by order ol Unnnr SAt 
T.happa, who gave a sum of money to repair the ro-‘^’ 
and erect places of worship here, and at Gungoti^l 
Having paid our respects to Byramjee, we proceed 1 
aloiijT the side of the hill on the nght bank (north) 
t!ie river, gradually ascending by a path equally . 
and dangerous as the first part of our ascent, but nin 
fearful, as tlie precipice to tlie river, which rolls 
us, increases in height, and exceedingly toilsome from n ^ 
iiatnre of tlie ground over which it passes, and 
consists wholly of sharp fragments from the clitts abo'’ ’ 
witii fallen trunks and broken lirancbes of trees. ^ 
The path increases in difliculty from the very irrcgU';|j 
natui'e of tlie ground, as well as the steepness of the 
face across which it leads, ascending and descending 
the small, though deep, watercourses furrow the "lO'’ 
tain side, in loose soil, formed of the small ftagmeuts fa . ^ 
from above, and which slip down, threatening to carry 
trai’eller to the gulph below. The shapeless block»^^j 
rock now more completely obstructed the way, and 
hcuidreds of yards, at times, the passenger must claio‘^_^ 
over these masses, heaped as they are one upon anot 
in monstrous confusion, and so uncertain and unstr* 
111 iut;itact VW 14 AV 4 .J. «-«•*. wv - 
tliat, huge though they aj'e, they shake and move ® 
under the burthen of a man’s weight. So paintul ”” |.^e 
i .5 this track, that it might be conceived as me.antto sf 
as a penance to the unfortunate pilgrims with bare 
tlKis to prepare and render tiicm worthy for the 
and Conclusive act of piety they have in view, as the 
ject of their j 'uniey to these extreme wild.s. 
The s(K)t which bears the name of Gungotree Is ‘ ^ 
ccftled by the rdiighness of the ground, and the 
of fallen rock, so 
comes close upon ii 
as not to I s seen till the tra'® 
,1k' 
