DARJEELING TO TONGLO. 59 
a damp atmosphere and dripping sky,—no summer's warmth nor winter's 
cold,—no genial ray of spring, no Dog-star nor summer's sun, no 
harvest-moon, crisp frost, or sparkling Christmas. The ground never 
chirps beneath the tread: the falling leaves decay, and do not rustle 
under foot. All animate nature is deadened: the forests are quiet, or 
the few birds that cry utter a mournful note. Magnificent as is the 
vegetation, exuberant in species, rich in colouring, profuse in the rarest 
and most delicate forms, of temperate and tropical climes combined, 
these productions are not the children of a joyous spring, or if of 
spring at all, surely the illegitimate progeny of a churlish season :— 
they are smuggled into existence unacknowledged by blue sky and 
bright sun, heralded by no birds, eropped by no beasts: they bud, and 
flower, and fruit, heedless of the dashing rain and oppressing fogs. 
Pray do not think I am unfairly depreciating the climate of Darjeeling, 
which is admirably adapted to the English constitution. I am only 
comparing it with more favoured spots, inaccessible to the European 
invalide. Its effect on the debilitated frame is marvellous,—really 
incredible ; and if there is truth in children's faces (and where else, if 
not?) it is undeniably well suited to them too. Its proximity to 
Caleutta, accessibility at all seasons, the narrowness of the Terai belt, 
coolness of climate, abundance of vegetables, and great capabilities for 
further improvement (rapidly as it has progressed), will, no doubt, 
render it the most crowded of the hill-stations, as it is the only one to 
which the majority of the Bengal residents can resort, for that short 
month which may be granted for the re-establishment of health. 
The great expense of Dawk-travelling, and the tedious length of a 
water-passage (the only alternative), to reach the foot of the hills, 
are the chief objections to Darjeeling ;—by the first, the journey 
(300 miles) cannot be performed under 30/., but in five days only ; 
by the latter it occupies six weeks, and costs a third of the 
money. The expense and fatigue of Dawk-travelling I consider one of 
the greatest evils of India. A country prospers almost in direct pro- 
portion to the facility of locomotion therein; and India, with all its - 
justly boasted wealth, splendour, civilization, and appliances, is dis- - 
gracefully behind Australia and Canada, or even many of the decaying — 
French, Portuguese, and Spanish colonies, in the + publie means of con- 5 ; 
veyance, within 300 miles of its capital. Pc 
(To be continued.) 
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