CHAPTER XV 



FIRST CLIMB BEYOND SRINAGAR 



THE Egern of India has at last been left behind, with 

 its memories of happy hours passed all too quickly ! 

 Already we have climbed the Indian Wallberg, and 

 bade a last farewell to the town of roses, butterflies, 

 and house-boats ! 



Srinagar forms but a dark line in a network of 

 silver, and the Dhal Lake glistens like a small 

 mirror. From the distance one could easily 

 mistake it for the Tegernsee, and imagine that one 

 was in dear old Bavaria, with the Wittgenstein Villa 

 lying peacefully in the shade of its venerable lime- 

 trees. 



I very soon begin to miss the hospitable 

 Residency, with its gay society, the white poplars, 

 the house-boats, and the flowers ; but I try philo- 

 sophically to console myself with various delicacies 

 which Lady Younghusband, with wise foresight, 

 ordered to be stuffed into my bearers' bags. I can 

 now no longer see the snowy heights which were so 

 plainly visible from Srinagar, whence they seemed so 



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