A COLD WEATHER TOUR 203 



more than a few pennies altogether, a sum which, he 

 exclaimed with much indignation, was not worth the 

 trouble of the journey they had made to receive it. 



This sort of almsgiving was common in former 

 days, but under our rule it has fallen very much into 

 disuse. It is certainly opposed to all our conceptions 

 of beneficial charity, and no doubt it was often the 

 result of mere ostentation or superstition. Still it tended 

 to inculcate unselfish ideas regarding wealth and to 

 promote kindly feelings between the rich and the poor, 

 while not unfrequently the money was distributed from 

 very pure and sincere feelings of religion. 



I proceeded onwards to near the head of the canal. 

 From there I retraced my steps, and, after marching for 

 two or three days to the westward, I reached the 

 margin of the great forest that stretches along the 

 base of the Shewalic mountains ; and here we halted 

 for the night. Next morning after breakfast the tents 

 were struck and laden, and sent on with the rest of 

 the baggage, the horses, and servants. I strolled about 

 and sat under a tree. Early in the afternoon I mounted 

 my pony and followed. Our march lay through the 

 forest, and our halting - place was to be at the foot 

 of the mountains. 



The first sight of this forest is a little disappointing. 

 There is no silence, no gloom. The trees do not meet 

 overhead ; many of them are small : while, interspersed 

 among them, there are frequent patches of brushwood 

 or tall grass. The scene does not at all realize one's 

 conceptions of a primeval forest. It rather suggests a 

 gigantic copse. 



