238 me Siooae oj

tains were white with pure new-fallen snow; the over-
hanging glaciers were partly covered with it; the snowy
peaks were white, and so were the clouds, faintly illu-
minated by the setting sun, veiled with white mist.
After dark, the clouds cleared away entirely, and,
clearly seen in the brilliant starlight,

" Above the spectral glacieis shone "

beneath the icy peaks ; while, above all, the hosts of
heaven gleamed with exceeding brightness in the high
pure air. The long shining cloud of the Milky Way
slanted across the wjiite valley; Vega, my star, was
past its zenith; and the Sat Rishi—the seven prophets
of the Hindus, or the seven stars of our Great Bear—
were sinking behind the mountains.

We had some difficulty in getting off by six next
morning, when the thermometer was at 36°, and every
one was suffering from the cold. Unfortunately, too,
we had to ford several icy-cold streams shortly after
leaving camp, for they would have been unfordable
further on in the day. There are no bridges on this
wild route; and I could not help pitying the poor
women who, on this cold morning, had to wade shiver-
ing through the streams, with the rapid water dashing
up almost to their waists. Still, on every side there
were 2o,ooo-feet snowy peaks and overhanging glaciers,
while great beds of snow curled over the tops of the
mural precipices. After a few miles the Chandra ceased
to run from north to south, and turned so as to flow
from east to west; but there was no change in the sub-
lime and terrific character of the scenery. Out of the
enormous beds of snow above, whenever there is an
opening for them,—

" The glaciers creep

Like snakes that watch their prey; from their far fountains
Slowly rolling on; there many a precipice,
Frost, and the sun, in scorn of mortal power,