CHAPTER III
LEGENDS OF THE HOLY LAND
From Khela one looks across a valley to that block of
the Himalayan range which, full of snow peaks and giant
mountains, is unrivalled in the whole world for sublime
grandeur. In the small tract of country reaching from
Nepal on the east to the native State of Tehri on the west,
and of a breadth of thirty miles along the Tibetan border,
there are grouped mountains which collectively can
find no comparison in any part of the globe. In this
small space there must be some eighty peaks of 20,000
ft. and over, and studded in their midst, like diamonds
amongst pearls, are some of the highest mountains in
the world. Beyond these comes the lofty tableland of
Tibet, with Gurla Mandhata and the Kailas Range standing
out clear above their fellows, while Tise, or “ th e ”
holy Kailas peak, full of majesty, a King of mountains,
dominates the surrounding country. And withal the
sacred and religious associations of this interesting
country, ever present in the minds of Hindus and
Buddhists, make one realise, in the words of Holy
Scripture, that “ The place whereon thou standest is
holy ground.”
The plateau of Tibet adjacent to the British border
varies from 13,000 to 15,000 ft. above sea level, and
standing clear above the highest part is the mountain
range of the Gangri or Kailas peaks on the south-east of
Gartok, rising to a general elevation of some 4000 ft,