THE WATER PALACE, MANDOO.
49
can only be fully appreciated by those who have enjoyed them. Fires were kindled,garments dried ; and faces, elongated to the most doleful length, expanded in the blaze,and became cheery again. Our recent meeting with a fellow-tourist has been alreadymentioned, and an extract from the diary kept by him while wandering in Hungrung,a district bordering upon the Chinese territories, will show how frequently Anglo-Indians encounter each other in these mountain-tours. “ Two days after our return
to Nako, there arrived three officers of the-dragoons, the first Europeans we had
seen for a long time, and, as they were pleasant fellows, the meeting proved veryagreeable. At Hango, on the 2d, we found Dr. W. and Capt. A .; and in the Rurang
pass, fourteen thousand feet high, we came upon the Rev. Mr. B., chaplain at-
To proceed, however, with our own travels. We pursued our route to the southbank of the Tonse, opposite to the spot where the Rupin, (having come 10,000 feet,350 feet per mile of descent, in less than thirty miles,) joins the larger stream. Wecrossed the Tonse at this place by a sangha, and commenced our descent down a tre-mendous precipice, which led to a gorge even more awful than any we had yet passed.Emerging, we obtained a noble view of a snowy mountain, and, climbing again,entered a forest of pines, which led us along a high ridge overhanging the river, andafforded at every opening the most enchanting views possible, the mountains beingwooded to their summits, and showing every rich variety of foliage as they swept alongin graceful undulations, now in dark shadow, and now glittering in sunshine. Someof our party were of opinion that this part of the country would be most desirable asthe site of a new station, since it forms a kind of frontier, or neutral ground, betweenthe tamer and the sublimer scenery, and commands every variety of prospect whicheither can yield; while, if the notion which they entertained concerning the capabilityof timber being floated down the Tonse and the Jumna could be realized, the pro-prietors would be speedily enriched by the speculation.
THE WATER PALACE, MANDOO.
The tumults and wars which during a long period distracted the Rajpoot states, haveleft the still beautiful and once flourishing city of Mandoo in desolation and ruin.It stands on the flat tabular platform of a mountain belonging to the Yindyhan range,but which is separated from the neighbouring hills by a wide chasm—one of thosegigantic works which, though a freak of nature, bears a close resemblance to the designsof man. The appearance is that of an artificial ditch, of enormous dimensions. Overthis, to the north, is a broad causeway, which at some seasons forms the only approach,the surrounding ravine being filled with water during the rains. This passage is guardedby three gateways, still entire, placed at a considerable distance from each other; thelast being on the summit of the hill, which is ascended by a winding road cut through