DARJEELING. 413 



From my own experience (he goes on to say) I am confident 

 if more care were taken, and more prudence exercised, a 

 good deal of sickness could be avoided." * 



There is a military convalescent depot at Jelapahar, 

 which adjoins Darjeeling; at the still higher level of 

 about 7400 feet, within view of it, is the old and ex- 

 tensive military cantonment of Mount Senchal, now 

 abandoned and in ruins; it lay at an elevation of 8610 

 feet over sea level, on the very crest of the ridge. 



There is a curious story in connection with the 

 abandonment of this latter place, whose ruins show that 

 very great expenditure must have been incurred in its 

 construction. Line after line of ruined barracks, and 

 other buildings, may still be traced, which are now 

 habitations only for the raven, the owl, and the jackal ; 

 even the mere work of levelling the parade ground 

 alone must have been a process of very great labour and 

 cost, scooped as it is out of the rocky crest of the ridge. 



In connection with what perhaps might be termed 

 our " croakings " about the necessity of caution in the 

 use of hill stations, as tropical sanitaria, the story of 

 Mount Senchal is well worth recording here. The 

 place is about six miles by road from Darjeeling, and 

 is passed on the way to Tiger Hill, a point over 9500 

 feet above sea level, usually visited by all who come 

 to Darjeeling on account of the magnificent view of 

 the mountains to be had there, and from whence a 

 good view of Mount Everest, at present reputed to be 

 the highest mountain in the world (29,002 feet) is 

 obtained. 



Senchal was selected for the site of the military 



* Medicals Hints for the Hills, by Dr. S. O. Bishop, Darjeeling, 1888. 

 Introductory Chapter, p. I. 



