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The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ
over the rugged and dangerous mountain-roads, these bungalows where he may find shelter and rest appear even as a luxury."
It is not my intention to relate in detail all the incidents of this journey of M. Notovitch, which are sometimes tedious; nor shall | dwell on the glowing descriptions of the grand and magnificent mountain gorges, and the picturesque landscapes made glorious by the songs of myriads of gay-plumaged birds which one beholds with admiring eyes at every step in the forests; nor shall I attempt a description of the gorgeous sunsets which, renowned travellers concede, cannot be seen so glorious elsewhere in all the world as in the Himalayas; not even Italy with all her immortal fame with which great artists have justly adorned her, can boast of such inexpressible grandeur as is displayed at sunset in these mountains. The perfectly pure atmosphere, the deep blue sky, against which the towering snow-capped peaks resemble huge masses of glittering silver, gold and diamonds, fantastically wrought, are scenes which intoxicate the senses of man with their ravishing beauty, and he is utterly incapable of describing with tongue or pen the magnificence of their splendors or the holy emotions with which the soul is inspired.
I will confine myself to a faithful account of M. Notovitch's journey, giving all the points of interest touched upon by him.
Leaving the valley of the Punjab, M. Notovitch, with his retinue, climbed the steep winding road, penetrating the counter forts of the Himalayas, descending at sunset to the little town of Marri, which stands at an altitude of 7,457 feet, and is quite a summer resort for English officials and their families. Thence they descended after nightfall, resting a few hours at a bungalow, continuing the journey at dawn, reaching the hamlet Tong at noon, at which place M. Notovitch hired a Hindu cabriolet, which conveyance he failed to enjoy on account of the cramped position
