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Beauties of India

UCH has been written In the "Vale of Cashmere" there are not concerning the natu- only "roses the brightest that earth ever ral scenery and pro- gave," but great crops of the rice which ducts of India. forms the staple of the people's food, and The richness of the wheat, barley, maize and other cereals. soil is conspicuously Cabbages, turnips, cucumbers and lettuce seen in some of the more cultivated val- are retailed at ridiculously low prices, leys of the Himalaya. Temperate and while the wonderful crops of walnuts, tropical products grow side by side- mulberries, peaches, cherries, pomegranroses and bamboos, violets, tulips and ates, nuts, apples, quinces, pears and plantains, pines and apples. The vine, grapes are grown almost without care bearing excellent grapes, grows wild in on flats of ground, many of which bear the hedges, and pasture lands are not no appearance of having been cultivated wanting. Indeed, though the absence of for many generations. Grapes, indeed, grass in the Himalayan valleys must grow in some eighteen different varieties, strike every observant traveller, it is a and may be bought at the rate of several mistake to suppose that this is due to any pounds for ten cents. Peaches, better quality in the soil or climate. flavored than our hot-house ones, are It is owing to the uncommon strength valued at about the same price for a and abundance of the native vegetation, dozen, and other fruits can be bought in for whenever a tract of land is kept clear "the happy valley" about equally as grasses spring up, and the imported cheap. enecies grow exceedingly well. The The traveller who would take a survey chness and flavor of the native vege- of India finds numerous means of contation is such that cattle, even when pro- veyance. To cross the Parbutti River vided with good pasture, are apt to the villagers couple together their light, desert it in order to graze at large amid spherical water-pitchers, and attach these the forests and copses. However, in the to a number of poles in such a manner as central regions of the Himalayas land- to keep their mouths uppermost. leeches and a peculiar hoof-disease are this rough-and-ready raft the vehicle is great enemies to the stock. placed, with the traveller inside; and, On HILDIBBAND