Page:McCosh, John - Advice to Officers in India (1856).djvu/282

 gorgeous colours as to drive the landscape artist to despair. I have seen many sublime scenes in many lands, but none to be compared to a sunset in the Himalayah.

13. SIMLAH, SUBATHOO, &c.—Simlah is the principal sanatarium in the Himalayah, and has been for many years the resort of the head quarters of the army (now moved to Calcutta), and occasionally of the Governor-General. It stands in north lat. 30° 36', and east long. 77° 10', at an elevation varying from 7,000 to 9,000 feet; but most of the houses are placed below 8,000 feet, and overlook the valley of the Sutlej, though at a distance of many miles.

It has a good club, and one or two hotels. Houses are abundant, and at moderate rents, and supplies of every description are procurable. Carriages are unknown there, but it abounds in the most picturesque rides. Umballah is the nearest station to it in the plains, the distance from it to Kallca, at the foot of the hills, is seventy or eighty miles, thence to Simlah forty or fifty miles.

A European regiment is stationed at Kussowlie 6,500 feet high. There is little or no table land here, the sites for the houses and barracks being scooped out of the mountains. A European regiment is stationed at Dugshai, eighteen miles distant from Kalka, eight from Kussowlie, and