where the men, who were employed in the dragging, and who came from the neighbouring villages, were relieved. The whole coast was indeed thickly strewed with buildings and habitations of various kinds. Between every third or fourth werst we observed populous villages, in all of which extensive fisheries appeared to be carried on. The methods adopted by the Japanese in this branch of industry, are in many respects singular. We frequently passed by at the moment when they were drawing their large nets out of the water, filled with an incalculable number of fish. The best fish in these parts, are of the salmon species, and are likewise caught in Kamtschatka. us The Japanese frequently offered stewed rice and broiled fish, and when any one of our party expressed a wish to partake of these dishes, they lifted the food to his mouth with two or three pieces of sticks, which are used by theni instead of forks. . The Japanese even carried their attention to us so far, that some of them stood constantly near us with boughs of shrubs in their hands to drive off the gnats and flies. We were not a little surprised at this inconsistent conduct; før, notwithstanding their excessive care to protect us from the flies, they shewed the utmost indifference to our complaints, and never offered to ease our sufferings by loosening the cords with which we were bound. We had, indeed, but little kindness to expect from them. To suffer us to pine away our lives in everlasting imprisonment, instead of putting us to death, was, in their opinion, the greatest act of mercy they could shew us. The bare thought of never again enjoy. ing liberty, was to me, however, a thousand times more dreadful than death. But even on the brink of an abyss, man seldom abandons Hope, and we now sought consolation in her smiles. We might some time or other find an opportunity of escaping. The Japanese, who were cautious in consequence of our vessels being still in the neighbourhood of their coasts, might, one day or other, be induced to loosen our bonds without reflecting on what despair might force us to attempt. We might even find an opportunity of getting possession of a boat in which we could proceed to the Tartar coast. From thence, under pretence of shipwreck, we might easily obtain a conveyance to Pekin, and, with the consent of the Chinese government, it would be no difficult matter to gain permission to proceed to Kiachta Thus we pictured our return to Russia, our dear native country. But these pleasing reveries quickly vanished; and we recognized the truth of the Russian proverb, which says: "It is easy to think, but not so easy to do." That the Japanese would not keep us eternally bound with ropes, was indeed no improbable supposition : yet what would avail us the freedom of our hands and feet, since that freedom would doubtless only be enjoyed within four high walls, and behind an iron grating. Where then was the coast of Tartary, where Kiachta? With this reflection the last ray of hope became extinct, and our souls were filled with the blackest despair. I frequently thought that had shipwreck or any other misfortune thrown me into the hands of the Japanese, I would never have murmured at my fate, but have borne my sad imprisonment with resignation. I should then have cheerfully entered the fortress, willing to render myself useful to the Japanese, and regarding them as friends; or, had I, who was the sole cause of the misfortune, been the only one to suffer from it, I should not at least have been tormented by self-reproach; but seven of my crew were likewise doomed to pay the forfeit of my imprudence! My companions sought to banish these feelings of remorse from my mind. Mr. Moor, who perceived that I was harassed with vexation at having been over-reached by the Japanese, referred to several historical examples, to prove that men of higher rank than myself, such as Cook, De Langle, Prince Zizianow, and others had become the victims of similar accidents. Yet I thought their fate far preferable to my own. They suddenly perished, whilst I was doomed to live, the VOL, V. S cause and the witness of the sufferings of my companions. To the honor of Mr. Chlebnikow, I must declare that he manifested more resignation than any of our party. He never murmured, but con. soled himself with the reflection, that no human wisdom or foresight could have averted a misfortune, to which in his opinion, we had been doomed by. all-governing fate. I, however, entertained very different notions of predestination. In my opinion, such men as are to blame for their own misfortunes, are as a warning to others, justly visited with the pain of repentance and sorrow; but, on the contrary, those whom fate has plunged into a state of misery, which no earthly wisdom or foresight could have averted, can have no remorse, and therefore bear their destiny with calmness. JOURNEY TO LAKE MÁNASARÓVARA IN ÚN.DES. (Continued from p. 30.) fore and on each side of the slope, on which we were encamped last night, is of a different nature; though bold in their forms, their outline is rounder, less abrupt, and the line of their summits more con tinued and agreeable. I awoke at a very early hour and was immediately seized with difficulty of breathing and great oppression about the heart, which was removed for a few seconds by sighing deeply. When on the point of falling asleep, the sense of suffocation came on, and the sighing became very frequent and distressing: however, as the air became a little warmer, this affection somewhat subsided. Several of the people are suffering from headaches, colds, and affections of the intestines, apparently attributable to the great and sudden changes in the state of the air, as in the middle of the day, the thermometer often stood 300 higher than in the morning. June 30th. Thermometer 469 at sun- it. The character of the mountains berise. It has rained great part of the night, and the summits of the neighbouring mountains are sprinkled with snow. Yesterday the first part of our march was through a narrow gulley giving course to the Dauli, the bed of which was formed by the union of the base of mountains of great height. Those, which were principally composed of sand-stone, had their feet concealed by a large slope of sand and smail pieces of stone, and their summits were ragged and rapidly breaking down Of this description for the most part were those on the left bank of the river, and their craggy irregular tops were far removed from the channel. Those of the right bank were principally of granite of a green colour, where washed with the water, and blue, blackish and brown above. The face of these, though by far more perpendicular than the other, and in most instances almost entirely so, shewed manifest signs of the destroying power of the weather. Some of the blocks of stone, which lay in the channel of the river, were of a kind of pudding stone, the insulated pebbles being of a reddish or bluish colour, and the cementing material of green granite; were these masses in situations where they could be worked, they would furnish most beautiful slabs, as their union is most intimate, and the friction of the water alone has given to many of them the smoothest surface imaginable. At the union of the Dauli with the Hiwangal, we took leave of trees; the last we saw being birch and small firs on the right bank of the Dauli, just after the other stream had fallen into March at Six.-At three thousand and twenty-paces, desert the Dauli, within two cós from its source at the foot of a mountain called Gangá-nóli. At five thousand three hundred and sixty paces, commence ascending the Gháti, or pass which separates Hindustan from Undés. Ascent very steep and difficult. We rode upon our bullocks the whole of the ascent, which was a mile and three-quarters. At seven thousand four hundred and seventy paces, reach the summit, where we find a heap of stones, on which is a pole with pieces of rag attached to it; and as it is customary for every caravan or even for a single traveller to add his mite, we ordered a bit of cloth to be suspended in I have had of them, it appears to me that they are higher; and the general difficulty of breathing experienced by us in passing them, comes in conformation of this opinion. our name. This custom is supposed to The first ascent was very steep, but not so difficult as the second, which is called the Niti Ghúti, or pass. Here our conductor, Amer Singh, had some fears, that our progress might be impeded by some guards from Dábá, and whilst ascending, called to the Pandit, who had got the start of him, to examine whether there were any watchmen on the summit.-He appeared not a little gratified on learning that there were not any. The height of this pass is so great and long, that a very small body of resolute men on the top, might defend it almost against a large army, merely by rolling down stones. We found the sun hot about eleven, when we began to climb; but it was stated that about three it became so cold that it would be scarcely possible to support it; however I conceive this to be an exaggeration. In some parts of the stony plain, the snow lay in masses, over which the bullocks trod without hesitation; and· in others, it was melting. Part of this gently ran over the surface into ravines, and part soaked into the ground, and probably broke out in springs at distant places. Between the Niti Ghati and the northern face of a hill adjoining a stream called the Jandú, there was not the smallest trace of vegetation. The distance was about one half cós; but just on the brow of the hill declining to the river, were some bushes of furze and green mounds formed by a kind of moss, which is remarkably close and firm. The stony plain was of great breadth and was intersected by deep and broad ravines, which took off the melting snows. These ravines all ran towards the North and East, and are the sources of various streams which joining in their course, give rise to the Setlij. The last range of hills had been represented as not so high as many in Garwal, However from the view which We encamped on some flat ground on the bank of the Jandú, a river which receives the Sheku, and another branch from the northern face of the great Hi It was extremely hot when we arrived, and as there was no natural shelter, I laid myself on the ground under a thick blanket. Though oppressed with desire for sleep, I found it impossible to indulge the inclination, in consequence of oppression in breathing, the moment I was dropping asleep ; and deep sighing only proved a temporary relief. At three o'clock the wind became very violent, but abated in the morning a little before sun-rise. Two Uniyas, going to Niti with salt, here met Amer Singh, and started, as he said, many objections to our proceeding. He thought it prudent that they should return with us, lest they might spread some report that might be prejudicial to us. July 1st. Thermometer at sun-rise 41; march at 5, 35 A. M. At three thousand two hundred and five paces, reach the summit where there is a heap of stones. Here we found the two Uniyus, one of whom was busied in lighting a fire, into which the other threw some incense, which he had previously bruised on a stone. He then leisurely walked round the pile of stones, in the midst of which was a statue having a piece of cloth tied to it, and whilst walking, uttered a long prayer. To the east was the sacred mountain near the lake of Mánsarovar, tipped with snow, and called Cáilas or Mahadeó ka Ling.* Turning his face towards this mountain, and after raising his hands with the palms joined above his head, then touching his forehead, he suddenly placed them on the ground, and going on his knees pressed his forehead to the ground. This raising the hands, and prostration of the body and head, was repeated seven times, the other Uniya, less devout perhaps, contented himself with three salutations and a short prayer. There are two mountains of this latter name, one near Gangotri, the other at Cailas.. Came to a large plain divided into several portions by broad ravines, and having several broad but not high hills on it. The only marks of vegetation upon it are low bushes of the furze, which may be called Tatarian, and small mounds of the compact moss before mentioned, with here and there a small tuft of a thin silky grass just springing up. Patches of snow still upon the ground, and splashes of water in which the feet sunk considerably; although I give our Niti friends credit for detaining us as long as possible, I nevertheless think we should have found some difficulty in passing these plains ten days ago, from their then swampy state. A five thousand four hundred paces, leave some snow in a hollow close to the left. At five thousand eight hundred and forty paces, come to another heap of stones, and descend rapidly along a ridge between a water-course, now dry, to the right, and one to the left, having a stream running down its bed. At six thousand paces descend. At six thousand nine hundred and sixty paces, encamp on the left bank of the Chastu river, the source of which bears S. 70 W. and springs from the northern base of the great Himalaya ridge. The bed of the Chagla river is about the sixth of a mile broad, pebbly and fleet, with several small but rapid currents running down it. The rivers to the south of the great Himalaya ridge are narrow, from the sides of the hills being very steep and their bases forming a narrow angle with little valley. Those which rise on the northern base of the same ridge have broad flat channels, the water draining into them more slowly from the table-land, and the more gradual and gentle slopes of the hills. A hunter, whom we have leng employed unsuccessfully, this evening brought in a female Baral. It was about the height of a hog deer,* (Cervus porcinus) with its legs and feet much like the sheep, and some similarity in the head, but the ears were thinner and narrower. It had eight teeth and two horns which curved lightly backwards. Its hair was very hard, and on the neck close to the skin grew some fine wool. Its general colour was ash or grey, but it had its shins and tail darker than the rest, and under the Seems to be Ovis Ammon, C. Were belly it was nearly white. It had four stomachs and a gall bladder; a vesicular tænia was in the mesentery, but I broke it in endeavouring to extract it. it not fanciful to suppose a chain in the works of nature, I should say that this animal was the link between the deer and the sheep. In crossing the plains I have seen no insects save a few small yellow butterflies; no reptiles but a little active lizard of a dun tint; no game, and no birds save the red Túti, larks and linnets but at our encampment there were ravens of a large size with a loud caw, an immensely large eagle on the wing, and a blue pigeon with lighter plumage than that common in Hindústan. I conceive that no trip would be more instructive to the physiological Botanist than one across the mountains which separate Hindústan from Tatary, as plants of the same kind vary in their size, tints and strength, according to the difference of their situations. Some time I thought that I was mistaken, but having seen the habitudes of many flowers differ extraordinarily in different places, and as the difference between those on the summits of gigantic mountains, and at the bottom of profound glens was presented very frequently to my eye with intermediate shades in intermediate places, as to elevation within a short space, I was enabled to recognize their identity of family after a little time without difficulty. At sun-set high wind arose. Thermometer 540. July 2d.-Thermometer 5o, A.M. 44; wind subsided during the night. The general direction of the rivers which we now meet with is E. by N. although they rise from S. 70 W. As the cattle had strayed, we were delayed until half past eight. At five thousand one hundred and sixty eight paces the mountain, along which we have come this moment, At six ends parallel to the left one. thousand eight hundred and forty-five paces arrive at our encamping ground, which is bad, as there is only one small spring from which the water is taken by a small ladle as fast as the hole fills, and this is very slowly. Here we found a square tent of black blankets pitched with four poles at the corner, and belonging to some Uniyas who had come from Dábá to graze their goats. As the water was not in sufficient quantity for the supply of the Uniyas and the Niti people, another well was dug, which gave what was required for cooking; but that for drinking was brought nearly three cós. An Uniya woman, wife to one of the goatherds, very good naturedly filled the water vessels of those persons who came to the little well, and did not take up her own part till the different candidates for water received the quantity which they asked for. She had rather a pleasing countenance, was of middle stature, and about thirty-five years old. There was much of curiosity in her looks at seeing us, but nothing of fear or impertinence. Her dress was woollen, and of the same form with that of the men. Her boots were likewise woollen, and much diversified by patches of various hues. Her hair, which was of a deep black, was plaited in tresses from the forehead down to below her waist, where the plaits to the number of fifty, after each being terminated by a cowrie shell were assembled in a band of leather, which was tipped with a tassell of red worsted thread: her head lappet, if I may so name it, was of leather and extended from the forehead down the back to the waist, but in the latter part gradually ended in a point. At the forehead it was bordered with silver, and from this rim hung seven rows of coral beads, each row consisting of five, which were terminated by seven silver Timáshás that played upon the forehead. The crown of the lappet was studded with small pearls distributed in seven rows, and the lower part was decorated with green stones something like turquoises but marbled, with coral beads, and many bands of silver and of a yellow metal, probably gold, about a finger's breadth. A stiff band of leather something like a soldier's collar was placed loosely round her neck, and ornamented with five rows of coral beads. The collar was secured with a button and clasp of silver. In her left ear was a coral bead set in silver, and in her right were two smaller beads in the same material. On her right thumb she wore a square gold ring with characters engraved on the table. On quitting the spring in the way to our encampment, we saw some of the Bampo Marchas sitting by their loads, with a dead sheep lying on the ground in its fleece, but having the entrails taken out; on a dish lay some of the intestines cut in lengths like black puddings, and I was led by this to inquire what they were and how made; and from the intimation which I received, was a little surprised to find the borderers of Bootan, well acquainted with the art of making black puddings. The carcase of the sheep was afterwards, I understood, roasted whole, by being frequently turned in a fire of furze roots. They This day we were treated with some chops from our Baral, and we found the Alesh juicy, tender and high flavoured. There was a Bootan priest sitting with some shepherds from the neighbourhood, cheapening small wooden bowls turned out of knots of horse chesnut. are very durable, the knotty structure preventing them from either breaking or warping. In the evening there were some peals of distant thunder, and an appearance of much rain; however we escaped with a few drops, the mass being attracted by the hills to the north. The Uniyas had dogs with their flocks, which were fierce and much disposed to attack strangers. July 3d.-Thermometer at 5,-580. Marched at 5,-10, as our conductors were anxious to reach Dábá at an early hour. Road leading over a dry gravelly, plain, much cracked, and with little vegetation, except here and there some low bushes of furze, small tufts of a silky grass springing out of this cleft, and a woolley plant like that commonly called " everlasting," perhaps a kind of dittany. A snowy peak in front. The road lies over a plain of great length but not of above seven cós in breadth, and consisting of many levels or steps broken by deep ravines, the edges of some of which are as level as if executed by art. On the south, the plain is bounded by the last Himálaya ridge just tipped with snow in stripes like foot paths, extending along the windings of the ridges on the north, by the Cailds mountains, the summits of which are marked more distinctly with snow, and the bases of which descend to the level of the plain by easy slopes and diminishing swells, forming a succession of steps separated from each other in the length |