Head of the Ganges. 235 
The Brahmin has been at the frontier village called Neilang : 
it is four long and very difficult days’ journey. The first three 
days are up the course of the river, high above its bed for the 
most part, but occasionally descending to it. It is exceedingly 
steep and difficult. 
“ May 26. — Marched to Gangotri ; climbed rocks, and pass- 
ed over chasms by means of ladders and scaffolding of decayed 
planks. 
“ The path to-day was of the worst description, and is, on the 
whole, I think, the most rugged march we have hitherto had, 
though there are not any long ascents. Nothing can be more 
unpleasant than the passage along the rotten ladders and in- 
clined scaffolds, by which the faces and corners of the precipices 
near Bhairofhati are made. The rest of the way lies along 
the side of a very steep mountain, and is strewed with rocks. 
The views of the snowy peaks, which are on all sides, were 
very grand and wild. 
66 The rocks are of granite, but of a lighter colour than usual, 
and specks of a bright black sparry substance are interspersed 
in them, at the distances of from one to three inches. 
“ The river’s bed from Bhairog'hati to Gauricund , was be- 
tween mural precipices of from 200 to 300 feet high : above 
them was the steeply inclined ground along which our path lay. 
Though very rocky, there were many places with soil where the 
cedars grew, but not large. Above the path to our left were 
bare rocky precipices, on the summit of which the snow lies. 
At Gauricund and Gangotri the river’s bed becomes more open. 
The temple of Gangotri has a mundup of stone of the smallest 
kind : it contains small statues of Bhdgirat-hi , Gangd , &c., and 
it is built over a piece of rock called Bhagirafhi-Sila , and is 
about twenty feet higher than the bed of the Ganges ; and im- 
mediately above its right bank, there is also a rough wood- 
en building, at a short distance, for the shelter of travellers. 
By the river side there is in some places soil, where small ce- 
dars grow ; but in general the margin is strewed with masses 
of rock, which fall from the precipices above : the falls do not 
appear recent. We lay down to rest; but between 10 and 11 
o’clock were awakened by the rocking of the ground, and on 
running out we soon saw the effects of an earthquake, and the 
