THE RKTl'KV 283 



the willow groves of Chanloong. The descent occupied 

 about an hour and a half, best pace. How delightful 

 and refreshing appeared the struggling willows of this 

 scrubby piece of cultivation ! Selecting the most um- 

 brageous, I threw myself under it, and experienced such 

 delicious sensations as the privations I had recently 

 undergone could alone have procured me. Bees and 

 insects in numbers were buzzing and humming about, 

 and the freshness of vivid vegetation was strongly per- 

 ceptible in the atmosphere. Excepting the valley of 

 Sugheit, the air of which was fine and agreeable, that I 

 have been breathing and exposed to may well be likened 

 to a perpetual east wind, the rawest and most intense 

 experienced in March in England. I revelled in the 

 pleasant change, lying down in the shade, giving the 

 reins to memory and imagination, until gentle slumber 

 stole over me. 



My attendants, baggage, and cattle, except one horse, 

 came in. The absent animal was obliged to be deserted 

 on the mountain summit. I Ordered a man with corn to 

 be sent up to make a last effort to save him. How 

 delighted all the poor fellows were to get down ! 



I eat my dinner again ' al fresco/ and sat out as long 

 as the light enabled me to read, occasionally casting a 

 glance over the scenery, always grand though savage, 

 and in the evening- subdued light endued with softer 

 beauties : then turned in anticipating a good night's 

 rest. 



16th September. I did enjoy an untroubled night of 

 calm repose, such as I have not experienced since I left 

 Sugheit ; no violent palpitations and struggles for respira- 

 tion, no biting wind penetrating my every covering, and 

 oh ! satisfaction indescribable warm feet. 



I rose early, the air cool and fresh, and just sauntered 



