Visit to the Siccim Mountains. 
1830 .] 
We did not stop at Titalya, but pushed on to Nij&ntra, on the left bank of the 
Bal&san Nuddi, a small river which, flowing by Din£jpur, at length joins the Ma- 
lianaddee. Opposite the village is a low undulating sandstone hill, on which, during 
the war, the Goorkhas had established a stockade, notwithstanding the vicinity of 
the cantonment, where was then stationed a battalion under the late Major Latter. 
Here we found pitched for us the tents which my fellow traveller had sent on, and 
his servants waiting to receive us. A moonshee, the medium of correspondence on 
this frontier with the Siccim R/ija, waited on us to know what assistance he could 
give. Me hinted at the difficulties of our proposed journey, of the bad feeling of the 
Raja, and of the obstacles which would be thrown in the way of our obtaining 
porters for the carriage of our baggage, as also provisions for the people. The lat- 
ter, Mr. Grant told him, he had taken care to bring with him ; and the other objec- 
tions he would not listen to, thinking it very unlikely that any indisposition on the 
part of the Raja would be manifested towards two English gentlemen travelling 
on a friendly mission, and by desire of that Government to whom he owed not only 
his country, but the means of subsistence 1 . Ample notice had been given, not 
only ot our intended visit, hut of the number of porters we should require. As the 
number was small, and such as there could be no difficulty in collecting, we would not 
allow ourselves to anticipate any disappointment. Orders were therefore given for 
proceeding the following day. 
The hill on which the stockade was situated is of some little extent, and of an ele- 
vation amounting perhaps to 50 or 60 feet. The surface, which is undulating, is cover- 
ed witli grass and bush jungle, which effectually conceals the rocky strata. In some 
of the gullies and small water courses, however, I observed accumulations of round- 
ed stones and gravel, which I concluded to be derived from the conglomerate beds of 
a sandstone similar to that which is found to flank the great mountain district to the 
north-west. This conjecture was strengthened by observing in a low bank where the 
surface had been broken, indications of sandstone strata, though the portion disclosed 
was too small for me to judge positively. The elevation of Nijantra above Calcutta is 
336 feet. The surrounding country is almost flat, the hill above described being the 
only one within many miles. The thermometer descended during the night to 43°, 
showing the effect of radiation to be very great at this place. 
Oa the 14th we proceeded on the elephant to Goshainpiir, also on the eastern 
bank of the BaMsan, the distance about eight miles. The country having a very 
gentle acclivity, has, to sight, the appearance of a flat, hut from the barometer the 
ascent appears to he 50 fee t. It is quite open and interspersed with villages and 
patches of cultivation, though much ground appears reserved as pasturage. At 
this place, the Raja’s zamlndar had erected huts for us and our followers, but 
we found the tent a more comfortable dwelling. In the afternoon a change 
of weather seemed to threaten, and the clouds collecting in heavy masses, the 
outline of the mountains began to be faintly discernible. They appeared to have 
considerable elevation, even allowing for our proximity. The following morning the 
clouds had again dispersed, and all was haze in that direction. But they had inter- 
fered so much with the radiating process, that the thermometer was only down to 57°, 
being 14° above wlmt it had fallen to at Nijantra. As a consequence, there was no 
dew, though at that place it had been heavy. 
On the^ lath we proceeded to Singamarx, four or five miles within the mouth of 
the Ndgrf pass, which is in fact the bed of the Balhsan river. The road is in the 
c&dir ot the Balasan, and is consequently low, and otherwise objectionable. But 
the higher ground appeared to afford a very eligible line of road, rising latterly 
more rapidly into a sort of side range, which kept the direction of the course of the 
river. As the road we travelled repeatedly crosses the river or some of its branches, 
and frequently lies in its bed, I do not think it could be kept open in the rains. But 
no difficulty need arise on this score, as the bank-like elevation above noticed, affords 
an unexceptionable line, gradually rising, till, at the entrance of the pass, it is al- 
ready many hundred feet above the present road. It would however cross a branch 
of the BaUsan (as does the present line), which goes to meet the Mdhanaddee here, 
the other branch continuing its course, till it joins below Din5jpdr. This would re- 
quire a chain bridge perhaps in the rains. At the season we crossed it, though wide, 
it was shallow. The bed is covered with rounded stones of every size, troni 8 or It 
inches in diameter downward ; though at Goslihinpur, but 8 miles below it, it is 
A Siccim itself is too poor to maintain half a dozen serving men. It is on the tract 
of plain country, at the foot of the hills, ceded by our Government, that the Raja sup- 
ports himself. 
