CHAPTER VII. 



The Neila valley, or, " Vale of Flowers." — A bear and her cub. — Sickness in 

 our camp. — Lofty pass.. — Torrents. — Snow-storm. — Shelter in a cave. — 

 Buspa valley. — Chenee. — Clapcott leaves for Simla. — Asrung valley. — 

 The ibex. — Its description. — Migi-ation. — Habits. — Wariness and shy- 

 ness. — Wonderful climbing powers.— Its speed over rocky and precipitous 

 ground. — Return to the cave in the Buspa valley. — The two passes. — The 

 pass into Thibet. — Barren couutiy. — Tangee. — Stopped by the Tartars. — 

 Assembly and consultation of Tartar chiefs. — Their fear of their Chinese 

 masters. — Costume and villages. — Proceed to Polinsundra. — The white 

 leopard. — -Unexpected meeting. — Arrive at Polinsundra. — Return to 

 Derallee from Thibet. — Scarcity of game. — One of our men drowned. — 

 Dangerous torrents. — Kedar valley. 



All necessary arrangements being made, 

 we started for Koonawur, crossing the 

 Ganges below Derallee, and ascending the 

 Neila valley, or " the vale of flowers." For 

 three days our route lay up this lovely 

 valley, in which the hills were literally 

 covered with blossoms of the most brilliant 

 hues ; no flower-enamelled mead, where love- 

 sick Corydons and Daphnes neglected their 



