88 THE FORESTS OF UPPER INDIA 



spruce, silver firs, and pines of the usual sorts, besides 

 sycamores, horse-chestnuts and oaks. Sometimes the 

 path rises to pass the top of a precipice i,ooo feet above 

 the stream, then again it descends by steps cut in the 

 rock to the very edge of the torrent. The next out- 

 jutting crag is more difficult to negotiate, and iron pegs 

 have been let into the face of the rock in places, to support 

 a gangway made of poles and loose stones laid on top, 

 overhanging the roaring waters which race and foam at 

 its base. In one place the cliff is so hollowed out that a 

 stone falling from this rickety gallery would drop on the 

 Nepal side of the river. 



In the rains traffic is entirely stopped, as landslips 

 usually cut the road. Being an important trade route 

 between Hundes and India, the Bhotias by custom supply 

 men from every village annually to repair damage done 

 in the monsoon, otherwise it would be quite shut up. 

 The Indian Government, being anxious to encourage 

 trade for the benefit of its subjects, Bhotias and Kumaonis 

 alike, does not levy any duty on the salt brought into 

 India by these passes. Everywhere else the salt is a 

 dutiable product, and a source of great revenue to the 

 Exchequer. If the import of salt on the backs of sheep 

 and goats were stopped, then the flour, rice, sugar, and 

 tea grown in India would cease to find a market in Tibet, 

 and the Bhotias, who are good subjects of His Imperial 

 Majesty, now well-to-do and driving a good business, 

 would be starved and ruined. Having struck the Kali 

 river at Darchula, we had to tramp steadily along the 

 hot low Vcdley for three marches, following this, the only, 

 track, to overtake Mr. Drummond, who had gone on ahead. 

 The view from some points of the road looking upwards 

 is remarkable. The immense height of the great moun- 

 tains on the Nepal side, to which there is no access or 



