LA DAK. 
37 
seen ; but after Kashmir, it was not half so much 
appreciated by us as on the return journey, after 
months of sterile mountains. To the west, there is a 
magnificent panorama of the Sind Valley for about 
ten miles ; the valley is only about a mile wide at its 
upper end, and the mountains rise on either side at a 
very high angle. On the slopes with a northern 
exposure the pine forest is only here and there 
interrupted, where avalanches come down ; but on the 
north side of the valley the forest is much more 
open, and there are numerous grassy glades. We 
halted for an hour to enjoy the view, and then, bidding 
adieu to Kashmir and its beautiful scenery, turned our 
steps towards the pass. 
For a short distance, the road is almost level, 
along the brink of the gorge already mentioned ; 
then comes a difficult descent, to the stream we 
had left at the foot of the pass, which is here 
crossed on a bridge of snow, the remains of an 
avalanche. We saw numerous carcases of horses 
wliicli had fallen over the precipice, and, to avoid 
accidents, all our pack-horses were unloaded, and the 
baggage taken across by instalments. After crossing 
this ravine, there is a very gradual winding ascent for 
about three miles, to the top of the pass. On our 
right we passed a remarkably fine waterfall, and 
further on a small lake. Just beyond this is the 
watershed, where one of the streams, entering the 
pass from a gorge on the right, sends part of its 
waters towards the south, to fall ultimately into the 
Jhelum, and the remainder flows in the opposite 
direction towards the Indus. The pass for many 
miles is an open winding valley, and so level that it 
