Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1933-05-18
EVA II. sARyoLD WRITES
INTERESTING LETTER OF INDIA

Following is a letter from Eva n.
Sarvold who Is in India on mission
work, telling of the fascinating land:
Indian, Darjeeling,
April 3, 1893
Vashon Island News-Recird,
Vashon, Washington, U. S. A.
Dear Mrs Smock:
So many of my friends have asked
me to write little letter for the
| Record, telling some of my expert
ences in far-away India. India Is a
most fascinating place, and they say
that she casts spell over all who
come here to live Whether she will
do SO to me, time only will tell.
am living in Darjeeling, a beauti-
full mountain city, reputed to be one
of the worlds loveliest cities, The
name Darjeeling means, "The Place of
the Thunderbolt." Orchids, lilies and
other exotic flowers grow wild here,
and vegetation is extremely prolific.
Bamboo and palms grow together with
hardy mountain pines and other ever
green trees, thus making a most fasci-
mating blend of tropical and colder
climate trees. Europeans and Ameri-
cans come up here for the "hot sea-
son." as the summer time on the plains
is called. Down there 1t Is becoming
most unbearably hot, and all who can,
escape to the mountains for the next
three months.
What I meant to tell about, was my
visit to see Mt. Everest, the highest
mountain peak in the world. It is
more than twice as high as our own
Mt. Rainier, which naturally we WASH
ingtonians think is the finest peak in
the whole world. To see this noun
tain, you have to climb a steep hill a
few miles from here, called Tiger Hill,
and as Mt. Everest is only visible at
dawn before the heat mists of the
plains obscure it during the day, we
rad to rise at 2 a. m. and go horse
back to this hill. Up, and up we rode
under the white glittering stars of
India, with the grooms holding on to
our horses tails, making no doubt a
comicsl spectacle, should anyone be
awake at that hour, to see. We ar
rived at Tiger Hill at 4:30 a. m. and
as it was still much too early for the
sunrise, we consoled ourselves with hot
coffee from the vacuum jars and
ginger-snaps, waiting impatiently for
Aurora to come riding over the East
ern hills. Far away, low on the east
ern horizon, a pale little silver of the
waning moon shed ghostly glimmer
! over the hills. And soon, emerging out
OF the mists we beheld the mighty
snowy range, where Kanchenjungha,
second to Everest in height reigns
supreme. But we had eyes for nothing
but Mr.. Everest, and we were rewarded
~ siS oiiiutiueiVe COue-SIlapeQ
peak take form behind the dark hills.
Mt. Everest is over 100 miles away
from Darjeeling, and the only part of
it visible even from Tiger Hill, is the
immediate peak and only very small
part of that 1t is very disappointing
to anyone coming to see Mt. Everest
and only seeing the small cone, but
We were prepared SO we didn't feel too
badly at seeing only that much. But
the mountain is capricious, and II
know of many people who have made
the trip several times without it being
visible. However, we were lucky be-
cause it was clear, crisp morning.
When the rays of the sun hit the
peak, it turned lovely rosy hue, while
the surrounding mountains still were
white and lifeless Thus it proved to
us, that We were indeed looking on the
worlds mightiest mountain. It was a
sight shall never forget.
AAtoiNS III lJdTJeellIlR is |
made up of Nepalese and Tibetans.
Nepal, is the forbidden country, and
no one can enter there unless by |
special invitation of the authorities. |
The Nepalese are Hindus and the
Tibetans are Buddhists. Over every
Buddhist dwelling, float the tall |
prayer flags with their prayer filled |
eXpanse. The Buddhists believe that
the wind-gods will watt their prayers
to Budda, thus saving them all the
trouble. They are essentially lazy in
this respect.
My space is, and I imagine I
must have taken more than you
can give me, SO will close. With
best regards to all my Island friends,
and the success of your paper, am,
Yours very sincerely,
Eva r. Sarvold.
P. s.-While 1 am writing this, the