THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 65 



This road, however, has four great divisions, each 

 with marked characteristics of its own. To Nar- 

 kunda it winds along the sides of not very interest- 

 ing mountains, and about the same level as Simla, 

 till at the Narkunda Ghaut it rises nearly to 9000 

 feet, and affords a gloomy view into the Sutlej 

 valley, and a splendid view of the snowy ranges 

 beyond. In the second division it descends into the 

 burning Sutlej valley, and follows near to the course 

 of that river, on the left bank, until, after passing 

 Kampur, the capital of the state of Bussahir, it rises 

 on the mountain -sides again up to Gaura. Thirdly, 

 it continues along the mountain -sides, for the most 

 part between 6000 and 7000 feet high, and through 

 the most magnificent forests of deodar, till it de- 

 scends again to the Sutlej, crosses that river at 

 "VVangtii Bridge, and ascends to Oorni. Lastly, it 

 runs from Oorni to Pangay, at a height of nearly 

 9000 feet, on the right bank of the Sutlej, and 

 sheltered from the Indian monsoon by the 20,000 

 feet high snowy peaks of the Kailas, which rise 

 abruptly on the opposite side of the river. 



The view of the mountains from Narkunda is 

 wonderful indeed, and well there might the spirit 



" Take flight ; inherit 

 Alps or Andes they are thine ! 

 With the morning's roseate spirit 

 Sweep the length of snowy line." 



But the view down into the valley of the Sutlej is 



VOL. III. E 



