1839.] Journal of a trip through Kunawur. 933 



some remark on the length of the route from Labrung to Soongnum, 

 the guide now for the first time informed me that it was usually 

 made in two marches, but fearing that I should feel it cold if I slept 

 a night on the pass, he had not told me so before, least I should have 

 halted there. Tired with the ascent, and the toil of climbing over the 

 slippery snow, I did not feel the least grateful to him for his consider, 

 ation, which I plainly saw was more on his own account than on 

 mine; however, as revenge is sweet, I had some consolation in the 

 thought that he had eaten nothing that day, while I had already 

 breakfasted, and that he would consequently be preciously hungry 

 before he reached Soongnum. However, there was now no help for 

 it, for the baggage had gone by a different road, so onwards and down™ 

 wards we must go. 



From the spot where we stood, to fully two miles and a half below 

 us, was spread one pure unbroken sheet of driven snow ; beyond this 

 for half a mile more it was broken and lying in detached masses. 

 No vestige of a road was seen of course, until far below where the 

 snow had ceased. There was however no danger, although the des- 

 cent was somewhat steep ; and the guide setting the example, we 

 seated ourselves on the snow, gave a slight impetus at starting to set 

 us in motion, and away we went on the wings of the wind, at a rate 

 which seemed to the inexperienced to argue certain destruction. I 

 had not gone very far, when I began to feel my seat rather moist and 

 chilly from the melting of the snow, and by no means pleasant to the 

 feeling, so I dug my heels well in, and brought myself to a stand still. 

 Another of the party wishing to follow my example, and not sticking 

 his heels firm enough into the snow, toppled over from the rapidity 

 with which he was descending, and rolled away heels over head a 

 considerable way down the hill, amidst the shouts of laughter, which 

 we sent after him. He got up as white as a miller, with his eyes, 

 mouth, and ears, crammed full of snow, and affording a capital repre- 

 sentation of c< Jack Frost." 



Walking, although requiring some care to keep myself from falling, 

 was far preferable to the chilly seat; and after sundry slips and slides, 

 1 succeeded, much to my satisfaction, in reaching a spot where the 

 snow had melted away. But my situation after all was not much 

 mended, for the cutting wind that was blowing from the pass, soon 

 converted my moistened inexpressibles into a cake of ice, which was 

 infinitely worse than the melting snow, and my legs and feet soon 

 became so benumbed by the cold, that it was painful to move at 

 all. Seating myself once more, by direction of the guide, I took off 



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