I had
an umbrella and a pilgrim's staff for sole weapons, with a few rupees in
my purse. I wore the yellow garb and cap. Whenever I was tired on the
road, my costume easily procured for me for a small sum a pony to ride.
The same afternoon I reached the banks of the Rungit River, which forms
the boundary between British and Sikkhimese territories. I tried to
cross it by the aerial suspension bridge constructed of canes, but it
swayed to and fro to such an extent that I, who have never known in my
life what hardship was, could not stand it. I crossed the river by the
ferry-boat, and this even not without much danger and difficulty. That
whole afternoon I traveled on foot, penetrating further and further into
the heart of Sikkhim, along a narrow footpath. I cannot now say how
many miles I traveled before dusk, but I am sure it was not less than
twenty or twenty-five miles. Throughout, I saw nothing but impenetrable
jungles and forests on all sides of me, relieved at very long intervals
by solitary huts belonging to the mountain population.
Pages:
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612