force
their way over the passes at an elevation of eighteen thousand feet. It
is a hazardous thing to do, and the bones of worn-out mules mark the
frozen way, telling of suffering and abandonment. The little Yak cow,
whose bushy tail is manufactured into lace, has been found to be the
best and most enduring animal to depend upon when such journey's are
made. She will patiently toil up the steep gorges with a heavy load on
her back, and will drop in her very tracks before she shows any
stubbornness or want of courage. Sheep are also used at times to carry
bags of borax to market near the plains, where they are shorn of their
fleece, and return to the mountains laden with salt. The culminating
point of the range, and the highest peak in the world, is Mount Everest,
a little more than twenty-nine thousand feet above the level of the sea;
but it is rarely visible from Darjeeling. In an unsuccessful attempt to
ascend Kinchinjunga not long since, an English physician very nearly
lost his life, and was obliged to submit to the partial amputation of
his feet. He still resides in the neighborhood in government employment.

The sunset view, already spoken of, had fully repaid us for the four
hundred miles journey due north. On the following morning we rose
betimes to see the meeting between the god of day and those white-robed
sentinels of time. We hardly dared to hope for a clear atmosphere. Only
the stars, perhaps a little weary with night-watching, were visible now.
A fine sunrise to follow so beautiful a sunset would be almost too good
fortune. The air was sharp and frosty, but we cared naught for the cold,
now at freezing-point, as we were between seven and eight thousand feet
above the level of the plains. Our anticipations were sufficiently
exhilarating to keep us warm. First came a delicate gray tinge in the
leaden sky as the morning seemed to partially awake from its slumber,
and gradually a fitful light beamed out of the east, as the stars grew
paler and paler. Objects about us became more distinct, until presently
the white peaks came into view one after another. Then the veil of night
was slowly removed, as Aurora extinguished the last of those flickering
lamps, and the soft amber light touched the brow of each peak, causing
it to blush like a beautiful maiden aroused from sleep, at sight of one
beloved. After the first salutation the rays became bolder, more ardent,
and poured their depth of saffron hues all over the