CHAPTER II 



THE TEESTA VALLEY 



THIS great forest, which extends for hundreds of 

 miles along the slopes of the Himalaya, reaches up 

 from the plains to the snows. In the lower part it 

 is a truly tropical forest, and about a tropical forest 

 there is something peculiarly mysterious. A 

 strange stillness is over all. Not, indeed, the abso- 

 lute silence of the desert, where literally not a sound 

 is heard ; for here in the forest, even during the hot 

 noonday quiet, there is always the purring of insect 

 life. But that stillness when not a leaf moves and 

 no harsh noise is heard, when an impressive hush 

 is laid upon the scene and we seem to be in some 

 mysterious Presence dominating all about us and 

 rousing our expectancy. 



A kind of awe seizes us, and with it also comes a 

 keen exhilaration. We can see at most for a hun- 

 dred yards in any direction. But we know that the 

 forest extends like this for hundreds of miles. And 

 we realise that if we wandered off the track we 

 might never find it again. It is all very awe-inspir- 

 ing, and in some ways frightening. Still, we are 

 thrilled by the sight of such a profusion, in- 

 tensity, and variety of life. In this hot, steamy 

 atmosphere plants and trees grow in luxuriant 

 abundance. Every inch of soil is occupied. And 



13 



