154 THE ASEUNG VALLEY. 



Our route lay in the opposite direction, 

 and we encamped within a mile or two of 

 the ridge over Asrung, and being now on 

 one of the regular tracks of excursionists 

 from Simla, fell in with a party, which had 

 reached the Asrung valley before us, and 

 consequently considerably injured our sport. 

 In this valley, except just at the entrance to 

 it, there are no trees, except a few stunted 

 birch for some miles up the river side, 

 hardly worthy of the name of trees, which 

 serve the ibex for winter shelter and food. 

 But the hill sides to the very top of the 

 valley produce juniper bushes, which thrive 

 luxuriantly, and make the warmest and 

 best fire of any wood I have ever burnt ; 

 it grows to a great size, the branches 

 being frequently many inches in circum- 

 ference ; so that where we had expected to 

 have been wretchedly cold, we found abund- 

 ance of fuel, and the people and ourselves 

 were never more warm and comfortable. 

 From the 12th to the 28th of July we 

 remained in the valley exploring all the 



