68 THE RHODODENDRON AT HOME. 



they beat on us through the clear air of those high regions, 

 had been intense during our toilsome climb. I was nearly 

 dead beat when I threw myself down in the shade of the 

 rhododendron bushes that grew in great profusion along the 

 ridge, and my mouth was as dry as a lime-kiln from thirst. 

 But the glorious view from the ridge was a more than 

 adequate reward for the trouble of getting up there. And 

 the rhododendrons ! which were all in full bloom never 

 have I seen anything to approach the colouring and quan- 

 tity of their gorgeous blossoms. Here, almost at the limit 

 of vegetation, they grow in the form of large shrubs not 

 as forest-trees, like those of the middle and lower ranges 

 and their bloom is larger, fuller, and of more delicate and 

 varied hues. Some were white as snow, others of a salmon- 

 red, whilst the tints of many ranged from the faintest blush 

 of pink to the deepest rose. The bunches of blossom were 

 very round, with the flowers on each bunch packed closely 

 together. To see the rhododendron blooming in perfection 

 of form and colour, one must visit the higher Himalayan 

 ranges where nature alone has nurtured it. 



After a short rest we trudged on refreshed and invigor- 

 ated by the cooling breeze on the ridge. The rest of our 

 day's work was comparatively easy, being more or less 

 through forest and down hill. And how we did enjoy an 

 ice-cold draught at the first sparkling stream we came to ! 

 As a rule, however, it is a mistake to drink water when out 

 on the hill, for the more you indulge in it the more you 

 seem to want, and you soon get inured to doing without it. 

 It was late in the afternoon when we reached our destina- 

 tion a hamlet situated below the ground we intended 

 hunting over. Whilst dinner was being prepared, I arranged 

 with the village Nimrod for his services as guide, and after 

 quickly disposing of my frugal repast, at once turned in 

 for sitting up to promote its digestion was quite unnecessary 

 after such a hard day's mountain work. 



The fleecy cloudlets that flecked the deep-blue sky were 



