130 A Sportswoman in India 



What a good feeling it is to be fit and well : to 

 have your nerves steady and your head cool ; to awake 

 every morning revelling in the almost fizzing air ! 

 Such was life up on those mountains in our little 

 khaki tents, perched on the somewhat steep, rocky 

 slope (a bit of level ground was never easy to find). 

 At all distances around only peak after peak of snow 

 was to be seen ; gorgeous and solemn mountains to 

 the tops of which no man ever has been, or ever will 

 go ; which are therefore steeped in the senses with the 

 glamour of the " un-get-at-able " that " un-get-at- 

 able " which, as long as man lives, always has and 

 always will constitute the Heart's Desire. 



The Himalayas are full of memories memories 

 which bring those which have been born there up from 

 the plains back to the hills to die : back to the land 

 of storms and sunsets ; to the dear, damp smells of wet 

 moss and scented fir-pins and rotting undergrowth. 

 It cannot be told why ; either it is born in a man or 

 it is not. He knows. 



I could never stand the plains 



Think of blazing June and May, 

 Think of those September rains 



Yearly till the Judgment Day ! 

 I should never rest in peace, 



I should sweat and lie awake; 

 Rail we, then, on my decease 



To the hills for old sake's sake. 



Women do not shoot with their husbands and 

 brothers nearly as much as they might do, provided 



