White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-08-13

Darjeeling stands on sort of stage
before and above which sweep the
amphitheater slopes Of Himalayan
foothills that rises about 1000 feet
from the Belgian plains. On the side
toward the mountains the ridge drops
away for approximately 5000 feet
forming what might, in American ter
minology, be called 1.-The Grand Can
yon of the Ranjit," but whose heavily
forested slopes and tropically luxu-
RANT floor earns in India the more
poetic name Of "Vale Of Ranjit."
1t is across this titanic valley and
beyond over ranges of foothills, lower
than that on which Darjeeling sits,
that one looks to mighty Kinchin-
junga. The eye therefore sees rise
of approximately 1000 feet, a range
Of altitude to be seen in few If any
other places in the world, since most
of the highest mountains rise from
lofty plateaus.
DarjeeIing on the Foothills.
Darjeeling has characteristics I'M
like those of most towns. 1t can hard
ly be said to have streets. Most Of
the buildings face on paths or walks
which run along the main ridge and
out onto its minor spurs, or work
their way by serpentine routes to
other paths that cling to the steep
sides of the slopes. Steps, too, serve
In place Of roads, connecting terraces
that rise one above the other. One OF
the few carriage roads is driveway
that skirts the lower end Of the main
ridge and leads below to the suburb
Lebong and it's barracks for British
soldiers
The villas, bungalows, shops, gov
eminent buildings, hospitals, churches,
schools, barracks and native huts that
make up Darjeeling and it's suburb
form pendant communities, like giant
saddle-bags thrown over the ridge
Dwellings are scattered down the
slopes for thousand feet, the ground
floors of one tier on level with the
roofs Of the next tier below II one
must cover much space in Darjeeling
he rides on pony back or is carried in
litter by four servants.
The center Of Darjeeling is Observa.
tory hill. knoll on the crest of the
ridge. Topping the knoll is a Buddhist
monument and surrounding It is
small forest of STATS from which
prayer flags futter their supplications
From the benches near the monument
one may sit. when mist and clouds do
not interfere, and take advantage OF
Darjeeling's best view of mighty Kin.
chinjunga and its fellows. But often
the vigil is fruitless It is only for
relatively brief periods during spring
and early winter that one may he cure
Of long. uninterrupted views Of the
towering granite and ice walls Ind
snowy slopes to the north.
Looking Across to the Peaks.
Standing on the Darieeling ridge
when the air Is free of mists, the ob
server first looks down. deep down
5000 feet into river gorge choked
with tropical Jungle. Then his eyes
rise to the rice fields rejecting the
blue sky and the tea plantations. Or
and up to the Temperate zone trees,
then to the pine forests browning
lower mountains The observer peeps
over half dozen intervening ridges
into the dark mysterious depths Of
valleys. Then he sees the bare up-
lands above the tree line and finally
the beginning of the SHOWS. Long
white glaciers drape the mountain
mass whose two-pronged peak half
fills the sky.
The world seems to be walled on
the north. There Is no such thing
as horizon; Kinchinjunga closes the
view like an exquisite screen.
The vertical height is to the length,
at this point Of vintage as one is to
eight; that is. as tree 60 feet high
appears when viewed at the distance |
Of one average city block.
In terms of familiar American views.
seen from Darjeeling,
Is like the Washington monument as
It appears from the west veranda of
the Capitol or the WOolworth building
as seen from the Jersey shore.
Darjeeling well earns its popularity
rs a summer resort. While on the
steamy plains of Bengal. few miles
away. the mercury climbs in summer
above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. II sci
iom tops - degrees at Darjeel.ng;
and in winter rs degrees ns rks the low
point Of the temperature 'ange. The
unpleasant feature of IT, weather is
furnished by the heavy rains. Ten
'eet Of water fall each year, and homo
If the storms are violent