126 



SOOROO PASS 



which, brought down from the heights, the accumulation 

 of centuries, lie in heaps and masses, huge and unsightly, 

 nothing picturesque about them. Even their colours are 

 dull and repulsive. And here and there is a yawning 

 chasm, descending into depths unknown, very hideous 

 when looked into. 



We had barely reached the general level, when a 

 violent snow-storm burst upon us. The heavens were 

 black, the wind howled in furious gusts, the weather and 

 accompaniments enabling one to realise one's fancies and 

 ideas of a mountain pass in a storm. We battled man- 

 fully against it, diverging here and there to avoid danger ; 

 and so toiling on reached the most elevated part, the 

 ascent gradual. Here we were free from the rocks and 

 stones, there being only the ice and snow, a layer of 

 fresh-fallen snow having re- carpeted the surface. We 

 crossed many a gaping fissure, and proved that the pre- 

 caution of the shikarries in not starting the other day 

 was reasonable ; for our guide, a Wurdwan peasant, 

 suddenly plunged down, but recovered himself. He had 

 fallen through a crust of drifted snow concealing one of 

 those ugly rents which stretch across from side to side of 

 the gorge. 



Our path led to the left. The snow-storm had sub- 

 sided, and the sun was now shining. The direct course 

 of the pass, hitherto followed, appeared to be obstructed 

 by insurmountable obstacles in the shape of ice and snow, 

 ranged in tiers and ridges to a great height. The moun- 

 tains, on either side, had been throughout precipitous and 

 extremely rugged huge crags without a vestige of 

 vegetation. We had now to ascend, and laborious work 

 it was, the snow being soft, and the sun now hot; in 

 addition to which, one's power of breathing was much 

 affected by the extremely rarefied air at this great ele- 



