IN THE WURDWAN. 3 



dwellings in this valley are of the same description, rough 

 log houses roofed with slabs of timber a few patches of 

 ploughed land, but unlimited grazing. It was here thought 

 advisable to send back, and order up camp to be nearer 

 the shooting, which was done accordingly. 



A bear was seen in a hollow on the left hand. We 

 went after him, but if there before, he was no where 

 visible, when we had climbed up to greet him ; so we 

 descended, and pursued our way up the narrow valley, 

 crossing repeatedly large masses of snow, much of which 

 had accumulated by downward drifts, and some by slips 

 from the overhanging mountains. 



It was in this very valley that, some few years ago, 

 Dr. Rae and five native attendants were overwhelmed 

 and swept to destruction by an avalanche ; among the 

 number was the brother of my shikarry, Phuttoo who 

 himself, with an officer of the 87th R.I.F., narrowly es- 

 caped perishing also, by rushing forward as the great 

 mass swept down with resistless force thus avoiding the 

 fate of the less fortunate, whose bodies remained buried 

 under the superincumbent mass for many months, in spite 

 of great exertions made by large bodies of labourers to 

 exhume them. 



Whilst I am writing in my tent, thundering sounds of 

 falling masses of snow are audible now and then, and, 

 looking out, I see the ' debris ' falling down the .cliffs 

 Opposite. It is grand and imposing. 



We wended on our toilsome way, struggling across 

 snow, and gradually ascending. Presently we descried a 

 bear ahead, soon after another, both feeding on the slopes. 

 We endeavoured to get at them, but whether they got 

 wind of us, or what not, is matter for imagination, but we 

 only arrived to see each successively leisurely taking his 

 way up the mountain. 



