A GOOD GAME COUNTRY 327 



The country and scenery were quite changed. The 

 mountains on either side of the stream are masses of 

 disrupted rocks, running up to precipitous ridges sharp and 

 angular. In fact, I had entered on the Indian slope of 

 the Himalayas, and, wonderful to relate, without crossing 

 a pass ! The only one on this route is the Sangyokh-la, 

 or Kung-lang as it is called by the Tibetans ; but that 

 range of mountains is a good distance within Tibet itself, 

 and the pass appeared to me to be only a gentle slope. 

 Of all roads into Tibet, I should say this one is the easiest, 

 and gave the readiest access to that mysterious country. 

 A traveller who did not delay on the way could easily 

 make the Sutlej from Mussoorie in twenty days from the 

 time of starting from the latter place ; provided, of course, 

 that Tibetan officials offered no obstructions. The hiah 

 ground above the precipices on both sides of this valley is 

 just the kind of country for tehr (wild goat), and no doubt 

 many would be found near the sky-line ; but I saw none 

 from the path. In the winter months they would certainly 

 be found in the sheltered parts low down, and then could 

 be easily shot from the road. 



At four o'clock on the following afternoon we came in 

 sight of the Jangla bungalow, the first civilised habitation 

 I had seen since leaving Kilba ; I also got a sight of the 

 iron suspension bridge over the Nilang or Bhagirati river, 

 which leads up to the Gangotri valley and its holy places. 

 Thousands of pilgrims pass along it every year, and to 

 them it must be a boon indeed. The view was singularly 

 effective : to the naked eye the bridge seemed to be only 

 a plank, with a slight upward curve in the centre, just 

 flung across the chasm at a narrow point. The name of 

 the builder, Mr. O'Callaghan, still survived in the memory 

 of the natives, though it is seventeen years since the 

 structure was finished. Before this bridoe and road were 



