188 EAST NEPAL. Chap. VIII. 



the Daomy River, bounded on the opposite side by another 

 parallel ridge of Sakkiazung, enclosing, with that on which 

 I stood, a gulf from 6000 to 7000 feet deep, of wooded 

 ridges, which, as it were, radiated outwards as they 

 ascended upwards in rocky spurs to the pine-clad peaks 

 around. To the south-west, in the extreme distance, were the 

 boundless plains of India, upwards of 100 miles off, with 

 the Cosi meandering through them like a silver thread. 



The firmament appeared of a pale steel blue, and a broad 

 low arch spanned the horizon, bounded by a line of little 

 fleecy clouds (moutons) ; below this the sky was of a golden 

 yellow, while in successively deeper strata, many belts or 

 ribbons of vapour appeared to press upon the plains, the 

 lowest of which was of a dark leaden hue, the upper more 

 purple, and vanishing into the pale yellow above. Though 

 well defined, there was no abrupt division between the 

 belts, and the lowest mingled imperceptibly with the hazy 

 horizon. Gradually the golden lines grew dim, and the 

 blues and purples gained depth of colour ; till the sun set 

 behind the dark-blue peaked mountains in a flood of crim- 

 son and purple, sending broad beams of grey shade and 

 purple light up to the zenith, and all around. As evening 

 advanced, a sudden chill succeeded, and mists rapidly 

 formed immediately below me in little isolated clouds, 

 which coalesced and spread out like a heaving and rolling 

 sea, leaving nothing above their surface but the ridges and 

 spurs of the adjacent mountains. These rose like capes, 

 promontories, and islands, of the darkest leaden hue, 

 bristling with pines, and advancing boldly into the snowy 

 white ocean, or starting from its bed in the strongest 

 relief. As darkness came on, and the stars arose, a light 

 fog gathered round me, and I quitted with reluctance one 

 of the most impressive and magic scenes I ever beheld. 



