THE 



YALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 



BY ANDEEW WILSON. 

 [MA.GA. NOVEMBER 1874.] 



rTlHE cut bridle-path, which has been dignified by 

 J- the name of " The Great Hindusthan and Tibet 

 Eoad," that leads along the sides of the hills from 

 Simla to the Narkunda Ghaut, and from Narkunda 

 up the valley of the Sutlej to Chini and Pangay, is 

 by no means so exasperating as the native paths of 

 the inner Himaliya. It does not require one to dis- 

 mount every five minutes; and though it does go 

 down into some terrific gorges, at the bottom of 

 which there is quite a tropical climate in summer, 

 yet, on the whole, it is pretty level, and never com- 

 pels one (as the other roads too often and too sadly 

 do) to go up a mile of perpendicular height in the 

 morning, only to go down a mile of perpendicular 

 depth in the afternoon. Its wooden bridges can be 

 traversed on horseback ; it is not much exposed to 

 falling rocks; it is free from avalanches, either of 

 snow or granite ; and it never compels one to endure 



