157 



CHAPTER IX. 



LEH. 



16th JULY. We got off early as usual on such occa- 

 sions : without making any effort to start at a fixed time, 

 we are always punctual to 5 A.M. within a minute or two. 

 It was a cloudy morning, such as in any other country 

 would indicate rain. Our route lay along the Indus, the 

 surrounding scenery mountainous and barren, with no 

 redeeming features, until we had completed some six 

 miles, which brought us to the considerable village of 

 Noorla, looking nice and flourishing with its green fields and 

 abundant fruit trees, apple and peach, scattered about. 

 We passed through this village, and then turned up a 

 watercourse to the left north-east and a mile or two 

 further on arrived at the village of Tahmoos, exhibiting 

 a long stretch of corn fields along the stream, with 

 numbers of apple and peach trees generally interspersed, 

 also some fine flourishing walnuts. Houses were grouped 

 here and there, some on the hill-sides on whose summits 

 are visible what appear to be remains of an extensive fort, 

 but may only be the appurtenances of the Buddhist 



