g(j» the HIMALAYA MOUNTAtNSv 
daylight had admittance. Just below the temple, on 
river side, grew three poplar-trees, and a few 
larches : above tliere are the remains of a fine old sil'|^ 
firtree, which overshadows some of the caves and she 
The whole people also bathed, and contributed sometli"^ 
to the priesthood ; and it was a matter of sen'ous j 
ance, as well as of great joy to every one, that we h‘‘ 
thus happily reached a place of such superemiiunt cai* ^ 
tity: such, indeed, that the act of batlnng here 
posed to cleanse from every sin heretofore couunitt*-' 
and the difficulty of which is so great, that few, exetf 
reachins the 
difficulty 
professional devotees. 
ever attempt 
place. 
iCC. ^ .a 
It is customary that those who have lost their 
and mother, or either of these, sliall be shaved at 
spot; and it was curious to observe tlie whimsical clnuifi'' 
produced by the operation, which nurnl)ers uiiilt'nvcj' ' 
It appears also, that one chief ordinance was the goi'J* 
frequently round the holy temple ; and we p.articiih'''v' 
observed that those who were noted as the greatest 
were most forward in this pious exercise : one man, , 
;j)articular, who had been a notorious thief, was unwcai'' 
m his perseverance. 
Well, indeed, do they say, that Seeva has formed th^^^ 
recesses which he inhabits, inaccessible to all but tin’ , 
whom true devotion leads to his shrine. That man 
have been indeed strongly impelled by devotion, and)it>‘’j( 
or curiosity, who first explored the way to Gungotrec. 
were unavailing to enquire, and perhaps of little 
known, to which of these motives we owe the enterpj'’ jj> 
but patience, perseverance, and courage, must have b jV 
strongly united with it to lead him safely and successh^ 
tlirough those awful cliffs, that would bar tl’.e way to 
men. Another omen of favour pointed out was, th<^jj( 
crease of the river after bathing, as at Jumnotree; 
is singular enough, that during the time we reni'1’ 
here, I remarked several increases and decreases of ,u' 
water, without any obvious causes; but these may 
be referred to the effects of sudden changes of teu’F^ ^ 
Uire occurring frequently among the hills, and actu'o 
tile body of snow that feeds the river. . , (t 
ASIA' 
