From Dalhousic into Chamba 81 



by a native ; the ponies cropped at the edge of the 

 path while we sat in the shade. 



Up and ever upwards we still climbed for the rest 

 of the afternoon, until at last the long-expected 

 Dalhousie, and Strawberry Bank Cottage, our own 

 special destination, was before us. Narrow roads 

 malls dissect Dalhousie ; which malls have bungalows 

 on either hand, above and below, whenever the khud 

 the slope has a level spot. The malls are too 

 narrow and dangerous for driving, or even for fast 

 riding, on account of the corners and precipices. Most 

 of the womenkind appeared to enjoy themselves in 

 dandies chairs carried by four natives and we met 

 them as one meets the same people at the seaside, 

 day after day, paying rounds of calls. 



Tea parties, picnics, dinner parties, all run to riot 

 in hill stations, where every one feels more energetic 

 than they have for months past ; I suppose the life 

 appeals to the Anglo-Indian who has just been through 

 a hot season : it is impossible for it to appeal to 

 any one fresh from home, with Scotland possibly in 

 his mind's eye by way of comparison. 



No doubt after stewing on parade and grilling in 

 a dark bungalow all day it is a foretaste of Paradise 

 to see grass and ferns, snows in the distance, and 

 even to luxuriate in front of a fire of pine logs in 

 the chilly autumnal evenings ; but unless a hill station 

 is looked on from this point of view it is nothing 

 less than a great disappointment. 



To begin with, the country itself is so very 



6 



