NATURALIST IN INDIA. 155 



I 



Bone we came on a party of natives sifting the soil for gold ; 

 it is found ia minute particles among dark-coloured earth on 

 the sides of hillocks and in dried-up watercourses. Boys 

 were employed pouring water on the soU, which, on perco- 

 lating through a perforated box, was removed, and then care- 

 fully examined. The workers informed us that they scarcely 

 found sufficient to repay their labour. On the rugged foot- 

 paths among the barren ravines are round cairns of stone 

 similar to the " chaits " of Ladakh, and solitary graves, called 

 " ragheers " by the natives, were also common on the side of 

 the road and pathway, surrounded by heaps of stones, white 

 pebbles, rags of various colours, pieces of wood, cotton, etc., 

 the offerings of passers-by, who invariably leave some token 

 of respect, and, foUowing them. Young and myself had always 

 been in the habit of adding a stone to these cairns, even as 

 our forefathers were wont on the bleak hill-sides of old 

 Scotland.* " I will add a stone to your cairn," says the old 

 Celtic proverb. 



By the middle of April the mulberry was ripe, and the 

 village trees laden with the delicious fruit, which, in point of 

 flavour, equals the celebrated mulberry of Cashmere. Ovu 

 route for some days led through fields of grain, then rapidly 

 coming to maturity, or across ravines, where we were now 

 and then interrupted by streams which had become swollen 

 by the daily thunder-storms. The Persian lilac was in fuU 

 bloom, an abundant spring harvest approached, and every- 

 thing promised well for the industrious people who had settled 

 down to our rule. If they would only make comparisons, 

 they would find out that they now enjoy double the com- 



* Curri mi clach er do cui-tn — I will add a stone to your cairn ; i.e. I will 

 do homage to your memory when you are dead. 



