208 WANDERINGS OF A 



CHAPTEE XL 



Magnificent View of the Valley of Cashmere — Traces of an Ancient Lake — An 

 Excursion to the Interior of the Futi Pinjal^Fauna of the Northern and 

 Southern Cashmere Eanges — Bears, Deer, Ibex, and Wild Goats partial 

 to Localities — Mode of Fighting pursued by the Wild Goats and Sheep — 

 A Noble Specimen of the Great Goat or Serpent-Eater — Bear — Wild 

 Grandeur of the Scenery — Natural History of the Markhore — The Tare- 

 Goat — ^Wild Dog — Black -headed Pheasant — Silver Fox — Weather — 

 Monsoon^ — Ornithology of the Valley — Cashmerian Valley Scenery — 

 Goat Antelope — Snakes — Small Venomous Viper — Water-Snake — Birds — 

 Cross the Wurdwun Pass — Snow-storm— Servant lost — Inhospitable Region 

 — Bear-shooting — Misery of the Natives — Habits of the Isabella Bear — 

 Herd of Ibex — Frightful Accident by an Avalanche — Flying Squirrel — 

 Ibex-hunting — Hermit Bears — Lost in the Forest — Himalayan Ibex — 

 Dangerous Travelling — Steep Mountains — Imperial Eock-pigeon — Distri- 

 bution of the Brown Bear of the Himalayas, and its Habits — The Black 

 Bear ; its Natural History — Eetum to the Valley — Red Marmot — Scenery 

 and Fauna of the Valley — Serinuggur and the Euler of Cashmere — ^View 

 from the Temple of Solomon. 



One of the best views of the valley may be had from the top 

 of the little hill behind the village of Shupeyon. The Bimber 

 pass may be seen traversing the Southern or Puti PinjaJ, 

 and presenting an appearance as if a great slice had been cut 

 out of the mountain barrier. It is the chief entrance to the 

 valley from India, and seems to have always been the high- 

 road, although that by which we entered is open all the year, 

 even in the depths of winter, when all the others are impracti- 

 cable. The vast accumulations of gravel and detritus are no- 

 where better seen than at the mouth of the Bimber pass. The 



