Habitat of Himalayan Birds 



Bageswar — a small town situated on the 

 Sarju river. The inhabitants of Bageswar 

 lead a sleepy existence for 360 days in the 

 year, awakening for a short time in January, 

 when a big fair is held, to which flock men 

 of Dhanpur, Thibetans, Bhotias, Nepalese, 

 Garwalis, and Kumaunis. These bring wool, 

 borax, and skins, which they exchange for the 

 produce of the plains. 



From Bageswar the Pindari road is almost 

 level for 22 miles, and runs alongside the 

 Sarju. At first the valley is wide and well 

 cultivated. Here and there are studded vil- 

 lages, of which the houses are roofed with 

 thatching composed of pine needles. 



At a place about 16 miles above Bageswar 

 the valley of the Sarju suddenly contracts 

 into a gorge with precipitous cliffs. 



The scenery here is superb. The path 

 passes through a shady glade in the midst 

 of which rushes the roaring, foaming river. 

 The trunks and larger branches of the trees 

 are covered with ferns and hanging moss. 

 The landscape might well be the original 

 for a phase of a transformation scene at a 

 pantomime. In the midst of this glade the 

 stream is crossed by a wooden bridge. 



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