132 AFOOT THROUGH THE 



follow, of the vast antiquity of the place, and the 

 supposed meaning of the Persian inscription on the two 

 pillars, only part of which is visible above the pavement. 

 It was not a morning for worship in mysterious dark 

 places, and I soon left the temple, and, seated on the 

 steps below, watched the flooding of the valley with a 

 glow that spread from Mahadeo to the Pir Panjal, from 

 distant Kolahoi to Haramuk. The light swept in vast 

 waves, the snows flushed pink, the blue hillsides were 

 purple, the river gave back the glittering rays, while the 

 mists over the low-lying town were gathered together, 

 garlanded by unseen hands as they lingered above the 

 houses, then swept away, no longer needed during the 

 day, and the way made clear for the great life restorer. 

 The heads of the tall poplars, stately in their great 

 avenues, cut up the town in all directions, and rustled in 

 the fresh breeze, their bright leaves showing a livelier 

 underlining. The stately chenaars stood unmoved, but 

 down below, on the still surface of the lake, the myriad 

 water growths took a brighter hue, and lifted long lines 

 of bending stems and waved their slender leaves as the 

 light penetrated to them and the wind swept through. 

 Numberless chirrupings of happy birds filled the air, 

 and there rose a faint fragrance, rising from the wealth 

 of flowers opened by young spring. I thought I saw 

 " Primavera," that old-world figure with her tender 

 face, passing along the path below, Flora in attendance 

 with all the bounding grace the old Florentine knew 

 how to impart to his presentation of her, and the flying 

 train of Zephyr to blow away all impurities and 

 miasmas. 



At first only Hari Parbat, crowned by a fortress, 

 had been visible, but quickly, as the mists were torn 



