114 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



be equalled for grandeur. Wave upon wave of 

 snowy ranges, surmounted by majestic peaks of 

 every conceivable shape, rise from the dark dense 

 forest below, clearly and sharply defined against the 

 deep-blue firmament. This panorama is sublime 

 beyond conception, and offers a striking contrast to 

 the southern view, where the valley of the Dhoon> 

 the Sewalic hills, and the reeking plains of India, 

 with the windings of the Ganges and the Jumna, 

 lay stretched before the eye as in a map. Even 

 the genius of a Turner could not do justice to 

 such scenery. How faintly, then, would words 

 portray it ! Language cannot convey an adequate 

 impression of such magnitude, so " I am compelled 

 to throw the reins on the neck of the steed of 

 description, and relinquish the pursuit." 



Before describing our route, I shall enter upon 

 the different varieties of game that are to be 

 found in the Ghurwal, describing such as are 

 peculiar to the range. The feline species are 

 commonly supposed to frequent only the warmer 

 regions; but many of them are not very sus- 

 ceptible of cold, for in the Himalaya I killed a 



