Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/227

 A MOUNTAIN STKONGHOLD 185 panied me on foot, while I, relying on the assistance of Almighty God, pressed steadily forward to the con- quest of Kator and began to ascend the mountains. Despite the heat of the wind, there was so much snow on the hills that the feet of both men and cattle sank in it helplessly. I was obliged, therefore, to halt during AX AFGHAN FORTRESS. the day; but at night, when the snow congealed, I pursued my way over the frozen surface of the ice till I reached the top of the mountain. At daybreak, when the ice thawed, carpets and horse-rugs were spread upon its surface and the horses were kept upon them. At nightfall we again proceeded as before, and in this manner I crossed several lofty mountains, al-