200 THE FORESTS OF UPPER INDIA 



higher than one would ever expect to see such a vision, 

 the snowy range stands out, a lovely panorama of white 

 peaks cut out with blue shadows, standing in cold majesty 

 against the heavens. I have seen a similar effect across 

 the prairies when approaching the Rocky Mountains ; but 

 for striking effect and mysterious beauty the view from 

 the Bhabar or Terai, only occasionally seen, is unsur- 

 passed. What wonder the Hindu of the plains looks on 

 these great mountains as the divine habitation ! He 

 cannot believe that man can exist and walk up there, or 

 that water can harden into those white snow summits. 

 He prays towards the sources of his sacred river as the 

 most divine fountain of life, and he worships its ever- 

 welling waters as the stream which will bear him eventu- 

 ally on its bosom to Paradise. 



It was under the same mysterious mountains further 

 eastwards, at Gaya in Bengal, that the religion of the 

 Buddhists had its origin, and the sacred Bo-tree is still 

 shown under which Sakiya Muni received the divine 

 revelation. Prior to these inspirations, the worshippers 

 of the fairies, found and still surviving in aU countries, 

 seem to have peopled every rock and summit, every 

 fountain and torrent, with their mysterious spirits or 

 deities, who must be kept in good humour and flattered 

 lest they may do us harm. Snake worship is also not 

 uncommon, with which the allegory of Eve and the tree 

 of knowledge may be connected. In these hills, as well 

 as in the Celtic countries of Europe, are found heaps of 

 stones, where the passenger throws something to appease 

 the devta or fairy of the ghat. The bush near the sacred 

 well is covered, as in Ireland, with rags tied on to please 

 the deity. I have often, in the least-frequented ranges 

 of the Himalayas, come on heaps of loose stones put 

 up on the summit of the hill ; also altars, where rice and 



