A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



(measured). There was no damage done, save that 

 a little brandy was spilled out of a bottle hanging 

 on the tent-pole. Babu Lai declared that the 

 " shaitan " had come in, had a drink, and continued 

 on his way rejoicing. A lot of my clothes, which 

 had been washed and were drying in the sun, were 

 whirled up almost out of sight, but were eventually 

 retrieved. 



The next day I arrived at Machalang, and here I 

 was joined by H., who, having shot his nyan and 

 goa, had made double marches to catch me up. 

 We went on next day to the famous Monastery of 

 Himis. This " Gonpa" has been described so often 

 and so well that I will only attempt to write my 

 own impressions of this most curious place. H. 

 had paid it a previous visit, having been here on 

 his way up to Rupshu, and his visit was made 

 during the "fair time." This, of course, is the best 

 time to see it, as then Lamaists in hundreds, many 

 of them from a considerable distance, congregate 

 here, and a regular festival is held, part of the 

 performance consisting of those curious religious 

 plays or dances, with their grotesque masks, which 

 are so important a feature of the Buddhist religion. 



On my way up the Indus I had passed the 

 entrance to the Himis Nalah without noticing it 

 in fact, there is nothing in the view from the main 

 valley to show that this rocky ravine is different 

 from any other of the many side nalahs in these 



deserts. About a mile up this ravine, however, 



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