CHAPTER VI 



KINCHINJUNGA 



Aspiration is the root sentiment at the Heart of 

 Nature as she manifests herself in the forest — 

 aspiration upward checked by concentration upon 

 the inmost centre. And the very emblem of the 

 aspiration of Nature kept in hand and under con- 

 trol is to be found in that proud pinnacle of the 

 Sikkim Himalaya, Kinchinjunga, as it is seen from 

 Darjiling rising from amidst the rich tropical forests 

 which clothe its base. To Darjiling, therefore, we 

 should be wise to go. 



To reach it we must ascend the slopes of the 

 outer ranges which rise abruptly from the plains. 

 A giant forest now replaces the stunted and bushy 

 timber of the Terai proper and clothes the steep 

 mountain-sides with dense, deep-green, dripping 

 vegetation. The trees are of great height, and are 

 sheathed and festooned with climbing plants of 

 many kinds. Bauhinias and robinias, like huge 

 cables, join tree to tree. Peppers, vines, and con- 

 volvulus twine themselves round the trunks and 

 branches, and hang in graceful pendants from the 

 boughs. And the trees, besides being hung with 

 climbers, are also decked with orchids and with foli- 

 aceous lichens and mosses. The wild banana with 

 its crown of glistening leaves is everywhere conspicu- 



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