WILD SCENERY. 155 



tended line whenever the nature of the ground 

 permitted, and beat the most likely-looking patches 

 of forest for musk-deer, of which there were nume- 

 rous fresh traces. Fred got a couple of shots, and 

 managed to bag a fine old buck with a pod that 

 weighed over an ounce. I might have had a fair 

 shot had I been prepared, for one started up from 

 behind a bush within easy gun shot whilst I was 

 fastening up my gaiter, but before I could raise 

 my rifle it bounded away out of sight. 



The scenery was very wild, our route lying 

 through a narrow gorge down which the river 

 dashed in a granite chasm, often forming a series 

 of cascades, whilst now and again lofty snow-peaks 

 were seen towering high above the castellated 

 masses of rock that crested the bleak and rugged 

 mountains. Although the general nature of the val- 

 ley altered very little, a great change was observ- 

 able in the appearance of the forest ; white birch, 

 silver firs, dwarf rhododendron with strongly- 

 scented leaves, and juniper, became the prevailing 

 trees ; pines becoming scarce, and cedars having 

 entirely disappeared. The route up stream became 



