ion] 
ON INDIA 
387 
with sledges and snow-shoes. At present the Soldier 
dare not issue oats or the animals would become quite 
unmanageable. Bran is running low ; he wishes he had 
more of it. 
Tuesday y August zz. — I am renewing study of glacier 
problems ; the face of the ice clitf 300 yards cast of the 
homestead is full of enigmas. Yesterday evening Pouting 
gave us a lecture on his Indian travels. He is very frank- 
in acknowledging his debt to guide-books for information, 
nevertheless he tells his story well and his slides are 
wonderful. In personal reminiscence he is distinctly 
dramatic — he thrilled us a good deal last night with a 
vivid description of a sunrise in the sacred city of Benares. 
In the fust dim light the waiting, praying multitude of 
bathers, the wonderful ritual and its incessant perform- 
ance ; then, as the sun approaches, the hush — the effect of 
thousands of worshippers waiting in silence — a silence to 
be felt. Finally, as the first rays appear, the swelling 
roar of a single word from tens of thousands of throats : 
' Ambah ! ' It was artistic to follow this picture of life 
with the gruesome horrors of the ghat. This impressionist 
style of lecturing is very attractive and must essentially 
cover a great deal of ground. So we saw Jcypore, Udai- 
pore, Darjccling, and a confusing number of places — 
temples, monuments, and tombs in profusion, with remark- 
able pictures of the wonderful Taj Mahal- horses, elephants, 
alligators, wild boars, and flamingoes — warriors, fakirs, and 
nautch girls — an impression here and an impression there. 
It is worth remembering how attractive this style can 
be — in lecturing one is inclined to give too much attention 
a c 2 
