y swelled into the towering mountains of the Emodus.

A distant hill was pointed out to me as that on which the city of Ghorka
was perched, a fitting residence for the wild race to whom it gives
birth. My guide also showed me the road to the mysterious capital of
H'Lassa, winding through rocky glens, passable only for the droves of
sheep that traverse those mountain defiles, a journey of twenty days in
the Nepaul dominions; but how far from the frontier lay the city of the
Grand Lama the guide did not know.

The valley of Noyakot is about eighteen miles distant from Katmandu, and
was visited some years ago by Prince Waldemar of Prussia and his party.
It does not offer much attraction to the traveller, and as I looked into
it from the top of Sheopoori I thought it hardly worth the trip. Not so
extensive as that in which Katmandu is situated, it lies lower and is
very fertile. Its climate is much warmer and not so healthy. Looking up
the valley of Nepaul, I could distinguish at its farther end, twelve
miles distant from the present capital, the ancient Newar city of
Bhatgong, the second in importance in the days when Patn was the first.
It has now fallen into much the same dismantled state as its old rival,
while it looked much more picturesque, standing as it does on a
commanding eminence, terraced with rich rice-fields. The Durbar is a
fine old building, characteristic of the architecture of the country, and
the town contains many ancient Newar buildings of much interest.

But the valley of Nepaul, and the wild mountains of Ghorka, and the
dashing rivers and the rocky glens, all sank into insignificance when I
returned once more irresistibly fascinated by the wonders which the snowy
chain seemed to exhibit anew every moment, as clouds cleared away from
off the frightful precipices, or laid bare huge craggy peaks: For an hour
did I gaze upon this incomparable scene, as upon one which the experience
of a lifetime can seldom boast, for, though I was prepared by an alpine
experience in Europe, and had stretched my imagination to the utmost in
my anticipations of what would be the appearance of the highest mountains
in the world, I could never have conceived--far less is it possible for
me to describe--the scene I beheld from the summit of Sheopoori.

CHAPTER XIV.

_A visit to the Minister's brothers--Dexterity of Colonel Dhere Shum
Shere--Scenes for lovers of the Fancy--Adieu to Nepaul--The view from the
su