THE CAVE OF UMUEXATH. 357 



saw a few ibex tracks. We traversed some 

 very wild and difficult country, across 

 rocks and snow, and on the 28th, arrived 

 near the cave of Umurnath, a very sacred 

 spot in Hindoo eyes, and a place of pil- 

 grimage. 



The annual multitude who visit the cave, 

 had not long left it, and when we went up 

 there next day, our fellows easily picked up 

 a priest, to do the honours for them. It was 

 amusing enough, to see our faithful Shikaries 

 strip, and rubbing themselves over with white 

 earth, go to their devotions inside. They did 

 not seem to think it anything at all serious, 

 as they laughed, and appeared to consider the 

 whole business a capital joke. The cave is a 

 large opening in a gypsum rock, under the 

 movmtain, and contains a frozen spring, in 

 which the goddess is supposed to dwell, — a 

 precious cold berth she has taken up, but as 

 she occasionally visits Calcutta, and other 

 warmer places, it is to be supposed that she 

 only comes up here, when the heat is too 

 great below. The priests tell of a huge black 



