58 FOREST LIFE AND SPORT IN INDIA 
elevations. The flat-roofed stone houses are then 
obliterated in the masses of snow, and when the 
return is made in the spring, it must be somewhat 
thrilling before it is ascertained whether avalanches 
have spared the village site, and whether any rela- 
tives have passed during the gloomy winter, and are 
waiting obsequies by sons or grandsons. 
In the autumn of 1880 the great landslip at 
Naini Tal hurled to swift destruction many unfortu- 
nates, both English and Indian, and overwhelmed a 
band of devoted rescuers when engaged in their 
work of mercy. This cyclonic disturbance gave 
40 inches of rain in twenty-four hours on the outer 
slopes of the Himalaya, and passed slowly up to 
the roof of the world. Warned by the threatening 
of the weather, I hurriedly descended from above the 
forest limit, where, with a few native companions, I 
was hunting “ barhel” on the rocks below the snow- 
line, and succeeded in reaching Dhardli before the 
storm broke; and here, in a little tent 8 feet 
square, for three days, the first of rain, the second of 
sleet, and the third of snow, we awaited what the 
future might bring. No fires could be lit, no dry 
clothes were to be had. We watched with intense 
interest the rising of the river and the crumbling of 
the hills, till in desperation the villagers appealed to 
their gods, and brought the “ Deota,” with his silver 
face and crimson robes, from his snug temple to 
witness the devastation around. The climax arrived 
when from the top of the opposite ridge a great 
rock was seen to be slowly moving; it was poised 
above the village of Mukba, as large as two or 
three of the houses below ; and on the roofs of these 
