The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-26
The Himalaya Mountains.

The Himalaya Mountains.
In two late plumbers of the Evangelist,
DR.. Field describes the Himalaya Noun
tains. which, are the highest on the globe.
He assembled twice the lower range, eight
thousand feet high, from which he had a
view at a great distance OF the snow-cov-
cred peaks, which form "the back -bon. of
ASIA OF his first ascent he says:
'sAs 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
NAH had never trod, but the Intervening
distance was covered with Clouds out Of
which rose the snowy lomes, like islands in
sea.
my first impression Of the Hinlalayas
was one Of disappointment, partly because
we could not come nigh unto them. We
saw their SUBMITS. but at such 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
schain,' like the Cortlilleras of Mexico,
standing like wall of rock and snow against
the sky but seemed rather II sea of noun
tains, boundless and billowy, rising range
on range, one overlapping the other, and
rolling away to the heart Of Asia or, chang
ing the figure. the mountains seemed all ice
continent, like that of the Polar regions,
tossed up here and there into higher and
still higher SUBMITS, but around which,
stretching away to infinity, was the wild
and intcrlninable sea.
"Thus the view, though different from
what expected, was very grand, and 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 battlcmenis."
A day or two after he went up again and
spent night on the mountains, to get the
view both ut sunset and;at sunrise. He says:
ssThe 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 before
sunset, but only to be again disappointed.
Northward and eastward the clouds hung
upon the great mountains. Bi,C il one part
Of the horizon was hidden. on the other we
looked over the top OF the Sewalic range, to
where the red and fiery sun Was sinking III a
bank of cloud-not clouds full Of rain. but
merely clouds of dust, rolling upward like
the smoke of furnace from the hot
plains of India. In the foreground was
the soft, green valley Of Zebra Doom,
more beautiful from the contrast with
the burning plains beyond. 1t was a
peaceful landscape, as the shadows of even
ing were gathering over it. From this we
turned to watch the light rs it crept up the
mountains. The panorama was constantly
changing, aud every instant took some new
feature of grandeur. As daylight faded an
other light flashed out behind US, for the
mountains were on fire. 1t is Il custom oil
the people, who are hertlsmen. to burn off
| the low brush las the Indians used to burn
over the prairies), that the grass may spring
I'D fresh and green for their tlosks and cat
tie; and it was fearful spectacle, that Of
these great belts OF fire running along the
mountain side and lighting the black georges
below
CLEAR VIEWS OF SUNRISE.
He slept on the mountain, and rose early
| to see the sun rise. He says:
The stars were shining when we came oui
on the terraces, and the waning moon still
hung its crescent overhead. A faint light
began to glimmer in the east. We were
quickly mufied up (for it was cold ant
climbing the steep path, hoping yet treinb
ling. l was soon out OF breath, and hat
more than once to sit dowa on the rocks tc
recover myself. But in a moment woult
rise and rush on again, so eager was will
hope, and yet so fearful of disappointment:
One more pull and we were on the top, ant
behold the glory Of God spread abroad upoi
the mountain Our perseverance was re
lwarded at last. There were the HiulaIays-
the great mountains Of India. OF Asia, of tb
globe. The Snowy Range was in full view
for more than a hundred miles. The sui
had not yet risen, but his golden limb nos
touched the east, and rs the great round orl
rose above the horizon it seemed as il Co
himself were coming to illuminate the uni
verse which he had created. One after an
other the distant peaks caught the light up
on their fields OF snow, and sent it back as
they were the shining gates OF the heavenl
city.
sBut restraining our enthusiasm for tn
moment, let us look at the confiagration {
this Snowy range, simply as a study in geoe
raphy. We are in the presence of the high
est mountains on the globe. We are on tn
border Of that table land OF Asia (High Asii
which the Arabs in their poetical languas
call ''Roof of the World Yonder pass LEAD
over into Thibet. The trend OF the mountai
is from southeast to northwest, almost bel
ing the continent, Indeed. physical geogrl
pliers trace it much farther, following
down on one hand through the Malayan n
nlnsula, and on the other running it throug
the Hindoo Koosh Tor Caucacus) northwe'
to Mount Ararat in Armenia; and across il
to Europe, through Turkey and Greece.
the Alps and the Pyrenses, forming wh'
the Arabs call the Stony Girdle OF II
Earth But the centre OF that girdle, Il
clasp Of that mighty zone, is here"