Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-07-26


returning at once to his companions.
The chuprassic had command of the
party.
In this manner they progressed several
days without adventure. Passing
through Phedi, they toiled through the
rice fields of the hot and sitting valley
of rula, whence, gradually ascending,
they crossed the pass of the Nagtida
range, famous for its magnificent view
Of the snowy rangc-passing on through
magnificent forests of oaks, beech and
chestnut, they reached the picturesque
village of Laluri, with its walnut groves
whence descending again over grassy
slopes, they struck the Ganges near
Than. From here, for thirty or forty
miles, they had to move up the valley,
mostly along the banks of the river
Leaving this again, they had to strug-
gle up II prccipitous hillside among some
of the grandcst scenery of India, and
passing over an elevation of about 10, 900
feet, they again descended to the banks
of the river, and pursued a rugged path
amidst crags and bouldcrs and late on
the evening of the fourth or fifth day
| they found shelter in q small cave near
the bridge of Dangal, which they would
have to cross the following morning.
The bridge of Dangal, which here spans
| .hoc,p e thn GanraS tho
most dangerous part of their journey. The
river, narrowed and hemmed in between
mighty rocks, rushes along its rugged
bed with fearful impetnosity and noise
like thunder; it is here of great depth,
but only about fifteen yards across.
The bridge is of the rudest construc-
ton; two trunks of trees, loosely Sc
cured together by twigs, and only at
tached to either shore by loose stones
placed on their cxtremities, form a
trcmulous and insecure passage, about
twenty feet above the surface of the
boiling torrent. The hardy mountain
eers, even when ollt-weighted, have to
CI'So Will llIC iblllooU SllC ttll't PISSdu-
ton but for the coolie carrying bur
den, the passage is indeed dangerous
ordeal, and more than one unfortunate
native has been known to expiate with
his life a trip or stumble on this deadly
bridge. The early summer sun had
hardly commenced to tinge with purple
fl, Il t.r ,,nn1y,, u,bn,, 4
arrived at the Dangal bridge. The
chuprassie, with many words of caution,
started the elder brother across when
the elder had safely got half way, he
bade the younger follow, he himself
bringing up the rear. When nearly
across, the ear of the elder was startled
by shrek louder than the loud roaring
of the torrent, but, terrified and trem-
bling, he dared not look round till he
had gained the further shore. When
able to look, he saw the chuprassic, pale
and CHASTITY, alone on the bridge. A
hasty glance to the river revealed an arm
tossed wildly over the foaming waters,
tlltt wv III DIotllCl III
eddy of the boiling stream. There was
no hope for him the icy coldness of
the water and fearful violence of the
stream were equally fatal to human life,
and in an agony of grief, the unhappy
coolie threw himself on the ground and
wept The chuprassie joined him, and
ax,l,i,,nI fbot in tbn ,,,iJl1o ~
the bridge his brother had STUN
bled, over balanced himself, and
fallen, and that he could not possibly
render assistance. "khuda Ra Rhushi,
Kismut hal" ("It is Gods will, it is
his fate'), the unhappy brother said at
length and sadly resuming their jour
ney, they at last reached their destina-
ton, and reported the untoward circum-
stances to their master. Mr.. Wilson
questioned them both closely, but could
find no ground for suspicion. The
coolies affection for his brother was
well known the chuprassie had long
been trusted and faithful servant no
motive for crime was assignable, and
such accidents were, alas too common
i'll the Himalaya. He thought, however,
he would make an effort, however hope
less, to recover the thousand rupees lost
with the unfortunate coolie. With great
trouble he constructed IL raft of strong
logs had it noated to the spot where
the unfortunate man disappeared, and
preparing hooks and grappels, com
menced to drag the river for his body.
For two days he labored at his work, mt
the imminent risk of being overwhelmed
by the torrent. He alone venturcd on
the raft, which numerous coolies held to
the shore with strong ropes, letting it
| float down stream as he directed by
signs, for the voice could not be heard
amidst the awful roaring of the torrent.
Towards the close of the second day, the
drag WAS caught in something soft, and
from Il fissure III rock the mangled
body Of the unhappy man was raised,
the graphing g-irons having caught the
network inclosing the hour-bag. Mr..
Wilson congratulated himself on rccov-
ering his money; since, had not the
man been iammed in fissure of rock,