CHAPTER XXXVIII 



AVALANCHES AND LAND-SLIPS 



A FEW scattered firs still strive to keep us company ; 

 but now they are being left further and further 

 behind in the snow. It is marvellous to what great 

 heights these sturdy knights of the forest work their 

 way up. 



But stay ! I am wrong ! 



It is rather the snow which goes down to meet 

 them, for we are now scarcely 1 2,000 feet above the 

 sea-level, and yet, in spite of the Indian June sun, 

 the southern sides of the Himalayas still obstinately 

 refuse to doff their white winter furs. 



How much earlier do the giants of Central Asia 

 and Thibet yield to the sun's rays ! Even as early 

 as May they are said to be entirely free of snow at 

 a height of 1 5,000 feet above the level of the sea. 



Paradoxical as it sounds, it is just the burning 

 Indian sun which nourishes the Cashmere snow. It 

 caresses it winter and summer, causing continual 

 showers in the lower regions. Here its hot rays 

 make the earth sweat and then suck up the moisture 



"5 



