Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-04-25


the globe. He, ascendel twice the
lower range. 5000 feet high, from
which he had view at a great dis
lance of the snow-covered peaks, which
form "the backbone of Asia" OF
his first ascent he says: iu11' tsiga
''As yet we saw 'only in part Our
final vision was to come three DAYS
later. Away to the north and east the
horizon was filled with mountains,
whose SUBMITS the foot of man had
never trod, but the intervening dis
lance was covered with clouds out of
which rose the snowy domes, like
islands in a, sea.
my first impression of the TIima-
layas was one of disappointment part
ly beause we could not come nigh
unto them We saw their submits.
but at such a distance that they did
not look SO high as Mont Blanc,
where we could come even to his
feet in the Vale of Chamouni. But
the Himalayas were seventy miles off,
filling the whole horizon. Nor did
they rise up in one mighty CHAIN
like the Cordilleras of Mexico, stand
ing like wall of rock and snow
against the sky; but seemed rather a
sea of mountains, bOundless and bill
lowy, rising range on range one over
topping the other, and rolling away to
the heart of Asia; or, changing the
figure, the mountains seemed an ice
continent, like that Of the Polar re-
gions, tossed UP here and there into
higher and still higher SUBMITS, but
around which, stretching away to in
tinity, was the wild and interminable
sea.
THUS the view, though different
from what | expected, was very grand,
aud though we had not yet the full,
clear vision, yet the sight was sublime
and awful. perhaps even more SO from
the partial obscurity, as great clouds
came rolling along the snowy heights,
as If the heavenly host uprose at the
coming of the day, and were moving
rank on rank along the shining battle
mentS.
A day or two after he went up again
and spent night on the mountains,
to get the view both at sunset and sun
rise. He says ..... ..
1.-The sun was sinking, and it was
four miles to where we were to make
our second attempt to see the SHOWS.
Turning our horses, we rode at full
speed along the ridge Of the mountain,
and reached the top again before sun
set, but only to be again disappointed
Northward and eastward the clouds
hung upon the great mountains. But
if one part of the horizon was hidden,
on the other we looked over the top of
the Sewalic range, to where the red
and lery sun was sinking in bank of
cloud-not clouds full of rain, but
merely clouds of dust, rolling upward
like the smoke of a furnace from the
hot plains of India. In the foreground
was the soft, green Valley of Dehra
Doom, more beautiful from the con-
trast with the burning plains beyond
1t was peaceful landscape, as the
shadows of evening were gathering
over it. From this we turned to
watch the light as it crept up the
sides of the mountains. The pan
Drama was constantly changing, and
every instant took on some new feat
ure of grandeur. AS daylight faded
another light flashed out behind us,
for the mountains were on fire. 1t IS
custom Of the people, who are herds
men, to burn off the low brush Gas the
Indians used to burn over the pral-
ries), that the grass may spring up
fresh and green for their flocks and
cattle; and it was a Fearful spectacle,
tknf Of fh.on h.1ta ,,fH ra inn
along the mountain side and lighting
up the black gorges below"
He slept on the mountain, and rose
early to see the sun rise. He says:
1.-The stars were shining when we
came out on the terrace, and the wan
ing moon still hung its crescent over
head. A faint light began to glim-
mer in the east. We were quickly
muffled up (for it was cold and climb
ing up the steep path, hoping yet
trembling. | was soon out Of breath,
and had more than once to sit down
on the rocks to recover myelf. But
ia a moment would rise and rush on
again, 50 eager was | with hope, and
yet SO fearful of disappointment. One
more pull and we are on the top, and
behold the glory Of God spread abroad
upon the mountainsl Our persever-
ance was rewarded at last. There
were the Himalayas the great noun
tains Of India. of Asia, of the globe.
The Snowy Range was in full view
for more than hundred miles. The
sun had not yet risen, but his golden
limb now touched the east, and as the
great round orb rose above the horizon
it seemed as if God himself were com
ing to illumine the universe which he
had created. One after another the
distant peaks caught the light upon
their fields Of snow, and sent it back
as il they We're the shining gates Of the