INTRODUCTION xxvii 



steppes of Tibet on the other, is the most suitable 

 place I know for a study of Natural Beauty. 



But there are beauties in Kashmir and in the 

 great Karakoram Mountains behind Kashmir which 

 are not found in Sikkim. And there are beauties in 

 the Desert which are not found in either Sikkim or 

 Kashmir. So I must take the Artist to these 

 regions also. 



And I choose Sikkim and Kashmir because these 

 are easily accessible regions to which men with a 

 thirst for Beauty can return again and again, till 

 they are saturated with the atmosphere and have 

 imbibed the true spirit of the region — till they have 

 realised how much these natural features express 

 sentiments which they, too, are wanting to express 

 — their aspirations for the highest and purest, their 

 longing for repose, their delight in warmth and 

 affection, or whatever their sentiment might be. 

 Thousands of Englishmen, cultured Indians, and 

 travellers from all over the world, visit the Himalaya 

 every year — some for sport, some for health, some 

 for social enjoyment. Amongst these may be our 

 Naturalist-Artist who year after year, drawn to 

 Sikkim and Kashmir by his love of Natural Beauty, 

 would learn to know Nature in the wonderfully 

 varied aspects under which she is to be seen in those 

 favoured regions, who would come into ever-deepen- 

 ing communion with her, would yearly see more 

 Beauty in her, and would communicate to us the 

 enjoyment he had felt. 



But Natural Beauty includes within its scope 

 a great deal more than only natural scenery. It 

 includes the beauty of all natural objects — men and 



