THE STORM. 183 



for a moment, followed almost instantaneously by 

 a terrific peal of thunder, which resounded in 

 a hundred gorges, and the storm was upon us. 

 An ominous moaning seemed to proceed from 

 the head of the glacier, as if the god Mahadeo 

 was grumbling in his retreat on account of mortals 

 approaching the forbidden limit, and a thick mist, 

 through which the sun shone like a pale red 

 moon, now overwhelmed us, accompanied by a 

 sharp, cold, cutting wind, against which our 

 waterproof blankets afforded but little protection. 

 I never felt anything like this intensely-piercing 

 cold blast; it seemed to freeze the very blood in 

 our veins, and cause it to stagnate.* We also 

 experienced severe acute pains across the forehead, 

 and behind the eyes, giddiness and oppression of 

 breathing, but I scarcely suffered as much as my 

 companions or the Ghoorkas, whose blood red 

 eyes, blue lips, and strangely wan and livid 

 countenances were horrible to behold. The 

 Phaidee coolie got both of his hands and arms 

 frost-bitten, and when we removed his gloves they 

 * The thermometer fell nearly ten degrees, 



