AA CAVE (Skinner 1832)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An inhabitable cave or rock shelter, which is said to allow experiencing a spontanous descent into a cave occupied by a party of resting Gorkha travellers on their way back home to Katmandoo (SKINNER 1833, 2: 142-144). SITUATION: Beneath a projecting crag concealed by brambles thriving at an unidentified location somewhere on a four marches long route from the temple and village of Barrehtee (note 1') in the valley of the Baghirathi (Ganges River) via a certain village of Lalloorie (note 2) generally south-west towards Landour (N30°28': E078°06') and, if I am not mistaken, somewhere south-east of Nag Tibba (note 3). CAVE DESCRIPTION: On arriving at the point of a projecting crag, that was well concealed by brambles, I mistook the path, not observing the termination of the road from the many plants about it. I made a sudden descent through them to a cave below, that fortunately was not deeper than six or seven feet from the crest that overhung it. I thought I had plunged through trap door to the subterranean habitation of some banditti … and when a party of half-naked savages started on their feet, one of them holding a gun in his hand, I seemed so completely in the brigand's cave, that I felt some disappointment that they did not secure me, and seize upon my possessions. In one corner of the cave sat a woman blowing the fire through a reed: a little girl knelt near her, kneading up some cakes; while a boy, of about six years of age, was engaged, at no great distance from them, in polishing the cooking pots with the dust that lay beside him. The woman was tall and thin; and so fair, that she might have been a bandit's bride among the hills of Europe. She had been out in the rain, and her black hair was hanging loose about her shoulders; a white robe was thrown, in the graceful manner of the Hindoo women, over her person; and she formed so picturesque a figure, that an artist or a novelist would have been glad to have seized her as a model. There were thre men, who had been stretching their listless length along the ground, awaiting the completion of their meal, until my unexpected arrival had called them to their feet. The one that bore the gun was lying near the skin of a bear, which was pegged into the earth for the purpose of drying (SKINNER 1833, 2: 142-144).e men, who had been stretching their listless length along the ground, awaiting the completion of their meal, until my unexpected arrival had called them to their feet. The one that bore the gun was lying near the skin of a bear, which was pegged into the earth for the purpose of drying (SKINNER 1833, 2: 142-144).