A Land of Giant Peaks. 



to the river, and a climb up to the polo ground over tiers of culti- 

 vated land, to the Political Officer's bungalow placed at my disposal. 

 The approach to Baltit, the capital of Hunza, is very fine, 

 lying through terraced fields watered by irrigation channels, the 

 valley being shut in on either side by gigantic mountains. The 

 village stands on an eminence at the mouth of a grand gorge. 

 Behind the castle, forming the residence of the Mir, or Raja, of 



THE MIR'S CASTLE IS SITUATED AT THE MOUTH OF A GRAND GORGE. 



Hunza, the mountains rise to an enormous height, whilst 

 towards the river it is a scene of orchards, now in the full glory 

 of spring blossoms. The houses are built tier upon tier, and the 

 castle of the Mir, which is reached through a number of steep 

 and tortuous passages, crowns the summit. 



Hunza commands one of the routes to the Pamirs and Central 

 Asia, and in this respect occupies a position of considerable 

 importance. 



43 



