Account of a Visit to the Bians Pass. 
97 
Feroze’s canal, which was re-opened a few years since, in the neighbourhood of 
Dehli, is said to be an object of no little importance ; and that its value is well ap- 
preciated, ill the prospect of ample remuneration, which the revival of such a source 
of universal benefit and utility to the neighbourhood holds forth. A tolerably accu- 
rate professional opinion, it is believed, warrants the deduction that occasional dis- 
appointments are reasonably to be expected, both as they respect the extent of 
the benefit and the scale of physical difficulties, which are said to be renewed annu- 
ally* 
The Chevalier de Buat did not write, or construct formula for Indian hydraulics; 
nor could any one of his calculations embrace the peculiar case of a torrid sun, and 
a soil so thirsty, as to reduce a vast column of water at its -nether extremity, to an 
evanescent quantity. 
The English Engineer will be entitled to all the honour, as he must submit to all 
the labour, to be encountered under such unparallelled difficulties. The Italian en- 
gineer has to deal with streams more susceptible of control than those traversing 
the plains of Hindustan; which Major Rennel informs us, have sometimes deviated 
more than two miles, in ten times as many years. 
The British engineers have two magnificent rivers, the Ganges and Jumna, on 
which to bestow their ingenuity, and their labour ; and these engineers will have 
the more to boast, when they place themselves in a condition to assert, that they 
have turned to good account the two noblest means of enriching a country ever pre- 
sented by nature , and have restored to her a situation, not merely equal to what she 
enjoyed in former times, but even of raising her to a condition of prosperity un- 
known to any country on the face of the globe, not excepting even China, or the 
northern states of Italy. H * D * E * 
II .— Account of a Visit to the Bi&ns Pass in the Indo-Gangetic Range 
beyond the Head of the Kali* River. 
[In a Letter from a Correspondent.] 
I left Almora on the 27th September, in company with * * * * and ’ * * * sod 
we arrived at Petora to breakfast on the morning of the 30th, a little after 8 o clocK. 
We had three good long marches, encamping, the 3d evening, near the Goorung val- 
ley. » * * * was to accompany us, hut not being able to leave the post till relieved, 
we were obliged to halt till the 3d October, when we marched to Kandali China, a 
little bevond Dlini. From thence we proceeded to Askot,, a very fatiguing march, 
being compelled to send our ponies by another road, the greater pait of ’’ ^ f ' 
and the sun was verv hot — with a steep ascent. The fatigue and exposui e wa 
great for * * * * Who was obliged to leave us, and returned to Almora. the next 
day we had hard work in getting our bnggage across the Gun below . Askfit. 1 ie 
country about here is very pretty, but sadly infested by tigers, so m , * o 
people bar their doors at night, and are afraid to venture out after nightfall. Some 
animal made a spring at a|oat in onr camp during the night, which roused us aU 
up, and soon after 4 heard either a tiger or leopard at a short d. stance W e had 
chiefly limestone, till we approched the top of the range which is 
kdt, where I found gneiss ; in descending tow ards Askot, day slate, 
next day we had hard work in getting our things across the river . , j 
which we had also to cross ourselves, as we did last year over 
if my companions and self had not put our hands to the rope, we form a„ t 
over that day. We did in two minutes what the people took eight to P' edor .but 
it was hard labour. The 6th, we marched to Balfiakot, our po the KAli— rock not 
Askdt ; the road through a thick jungle, about -iOG feet ab ° , t] ■ , k 
often visible — limestone — arrived at our ground between hours the sun 
having breakfasted on the way, which detained us a xn ’ , . 
very powerful : 7th to Dobat i very long march, lunestone, clay-slate, and si- 
* One of the brandies of the Gagra, and according to nomenclature ought to be 
the principal, being the name by which the Gagra Witbmthe mour tains, s known. 
t A single ropif stretched across the river, on which tarerses a si, ding block, to 
which the baggage or traveller is attached. From laree, string or rope. 
