The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-02-13

less he specially takes his leave right
at the end of the hot weather. The
Himalayas, however, abound in small
game. Probably nowhere in the
world are pheasants found in greater
variety, but, though in abundance,
their shooting is often apt to prove
disappointing, usually owing to the
vastness of the forests they inhabit.
The same cannot be said of the chik-
ore, which can give as fine a days
sport and exercise as the keenest shi-
kari can hope for. The fisherman will
also find himself catered for, as both
in KaShmir and Kulu trout have been
put out in the streams and now give
excellent sport.
Wonders of the Forests.
Shikar, though by no means the
least, is however, but one Of the many
attractions of the hills. The botanist,
naturalist or entOmologist will all find
plenty to occupy their time, while in
few places is there greater scope for
the artist and photographer. The for
ests, too, are full of interest. Get the
local forest officer to show you round
his jungles-he is a lonely man and
usually only too pleased to see a Wis
itor-and you may then begin to real
ize what is involved in the making of
a railway sleeper. You may even get
some idea of what is meant by forest
~. You will see trees such as are
rarely to be found at home, magnifi-
cent old groves Of deodar, maybe from
800 to 1000 years old, which have been
spared from the ak on account of their
sanctity-fOr the deodar is indeed the
tree of the gods and no hill temple Is
complete without it's grove. Telling on
precipitous hillsides and floating down
roaring hill torrents provide ample ex-
element for those who want 1t, but,
perhaps. most wonderful to the ordi-
nary visitor are the primitive methods
of conversion. Saving is still carried
out entirely by hand, and carriage
from the forest to the floating stream
is nearly all done by human transport.
Although wire rOpeways are now be-
ginning to be used in places, it is still
by no means uncommon to come across
sturdy hill-woman almost running
down steep mountain path with two
broad-gauge sleepers on her back and
baby suspended in blanket in front.
To the student OF folklore and
anthropology the Himalayas offer
wide field of research, particularly the
Hindu-inhabited tract in the eastern
Punjab. 1t is. however, by no means
an easy matter to get the people to
talk Of their religion and customs. The
hillman is q supplemented soul,
splendid fellow when you get to know
him, but he takes a lot of knowing.
His inherent shyness and what is al
most timid distrust of strangers
make it next to impossible for anyone
who has not lived in the hills or visit
ed the same tract year after year, to
get him to speak of his religious be-
liefs. But If ever you are fortunate
enough to get him talking, you ara
taken back at once to the days of the
Old Testament and find yourself living
amid gods who speak and dispense
justice to their devotees, rewarding or
Furnishing as may be necessary. You
will find an explanation Of every phe-
nomenon of nature
The hillman is passionately attached
TO his native highlands, and nothing
will induce him to forsake them for
the plains, which he regards almost as
a foreign country. And having learned
to love the hi1Is oneself, one can well
understand his attachment, for the
call Of the Himalayas is well-nigh ir-
resistible.