MOUNT EVEREST: FROM TIGER HILL. 421 



slope of the dividing ridge, the fogs mostly pass up 

 the valleys, or else overhead along the higher slopes 

 of the mountains, in " the cloud belt " which we have 

 already described. Darjeeling especially is comparatively 

 free from these fogs. They however unfortunately often 

 shut out the grand panorama of the snowy range from 

 the sight of the casual visitor, as many days may 

 sometimes elapse without a good view of it being 

 obtained the hot season on the plains, when Dar- 

 jeeling is fullest, being unfortunately the season of 

 rains and mist in the mountains. 



The early morning at sunrise, before the mists rise, 

 affords the best chance of getting a good panorama; 

 that hour is therefore generally chosen by parties 

 ascending to view Mount Everest, 29,002 feet and the 

 highest mountain in the world, from Tiger Hill above 

 Senchal. This gigantic peak is however only visible 

 at a great distance (quite 120 miles) to the eastward, 

 in the territory of Nepaul, and is in consequence easily 

 shut out by mist. Visitors therefore ought to be early, 

 and so time their departure from Darjeeling as to reach 

 Tiger Hill as nearly as possible at or before the rising 

 of the sun, when a grand panoramic prospect is visible 

 on every side, probably unequalled, and certainly not 

 surpassed by anything of the kind to be seen on earth. 

 There are some things that make a lasting impression 

 upon the memory; and we think we can say without 

 fear of being taxed with exaggeration, that the view 

 from Tiger Hill, at such times, is certainly one of these. 



Its vast and spacious grandeur, extending over an 

 almost boundless field of vision, and embracing quite 

 a number of peaks, standing without rivals at the head 

 of the list of the greatest altitudes existing upon earth 



