Chap. XXXIII. 
laha'ula. 
405 
gathering on the Wandala mountains, while our 
motley troop wound along the narrow path, — at times 
through forest or underwood, at others through fine 
cornfields ; but the country afforded a wilder and 
more varied aspect after we had crossed a little 
watercourse, — rocks projecting on all sides, sandstone 
and granite being intermixed, while in front of us a 
little rocky ridge, thickly overgrown with trees and 
bushes, stretched out, and seemed to hem in our * 
passage. Suddenly, however, a deep recess was seen 
opening in the ridge, and a village appeared, lying 
most picturesquely in the natural amphitheatre thus 
formed by the rocks and trees protruding everywhere 
from among the granite blocks, and giving a pleasant 
variety to the whole picture. 
This was Lahaula ; but we had some difficulty in 
getting into it, the entrance to the amphitheatre be- 
ing closed by a strong stockade, which left only a 
very narrow passage along the cliffs on the eastern 
side, not nearly large enough for camels ; and while 
our troop, pushing forward in vain, fell into great 
confusion, the storm came on, and the rain poured 
down upon us in torrents. Fortunately, the shower, 
although heavy, did not last long, and we succeeded at 
length in getting in, and soon reached the first huts 
> of the village ; but our reception was not propitious. 
The first person who came to meet us was a mother, 
roused by the hope of seeing her son return as a free 
man from Kukawa, where he had been carried into 
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