302 Sport and Life in the Further Himalaya 



waves quickly rose to a great height, and it 

 was with difficulty we could keep the canoe 

 from broaching to, for the "Alys," buoyant 

 little craft that she was "the foam upon the 

 waters not so light " was innocent of keel. To 

 run for the shore was impossible, as we should 

 have to a certainty foundered in the trough of 

 waves which were sweeping down the length of 

 the lake. A couple of miles on loomed a head- 

 land, behind which, if we could get there, would 

 be comparatively smooth water, and for this we 

 steered. The gale increased, and the great waves 

 following threatened to poop the little canoe 

 every minute. We had a good deal of way on, 

 however, and the noise of the waves dashing 

 against the rocky point was soon faintly audible. 

 Getting nearer, and shutting one's eyes, one could 

 have imagined oneself back somewhere off the 

 cliffs of old England ; only the cries of the gulls 

 were wanting to make the illusion complete. 

 We passed within a few feet of " the needles," 

 a few strokes of the paddle brought us into 

 smooth water, and we could look back and 

 laugh at our escape from the locker of which- 

 ever of the Tibetan godlings corresponds to 

 "old Davy." 



The wind as usual dropped when the sun got 

 high in the sky, and we towed through the 



