rified at the idea of encountering the two bears alone; but such reflections' nerved me to redoubled exertions. By dint of long slides and good running, I joined him again, and we both entered the tent together, thoroughly drenched, almost breathless, and very well frightened. What became of our hill-side acquaintances, the bears, I cannot say, for we never once looked back to see when they gave over the pursuit. We found everything in a shocking state of disorder on our return, and not a servant within sight: they had all been driven by the rain to seek shelter under the adjacent ruins and rocks, where we found them shivering like aspen leaves. After changing our clothes, we ordered dinner, which consisted of three stewed pigeons (shot during the march), and an extra allowance of beer -namely, one pint-bottle each. Humble as was our fare, we enjoyed it exceedingly; and now that we were beyond the bears' clutches, our adventure became the subject of merry conversation we resolved, however, never to go beyond our tent again without loaded rifles. Our situation at Letee was the very essence of discomfort, and we saw no chance of being able to cross the ghaut so long as the clouds hung so darkly over its crest. The sort of tent in which we were confined is called a "Paul," and, when pitched, is supported by two poles, one at either end, and a third, which is termed the ridge-pole, fastens on their extremes. Over this the canvass is stretched, slanting outwards to the ground, and then made fast all round with pegs driven into the earth. Both ends are alike, with the exception that one is altogether closed, and the other made to open like a curtain. Within it, in this instance, there was only room for our bedding to be spread on the floor, with a little camp-table, about two feet by three, between the two sleeping-places, the legs of this table partly resting on the beds. The rain fell so heavily, that it beat through the cloth in several places, but we had no remedy, so were compelled to bear all our troubles with patience. Wednesday, 19th.-The night of the 21st December, at Ferozeshur, was little worse than to-day. At daybreak we left the gloomy Letee, barely able to distinguish any object in the dense mist by which we were surrounded. We could not even indulge in our usual cup of coffee before starting, as there was no firewood with which to boil the water. The coolies did all in their power to dissuade us from crossing the ghaut until the clouds would clear off, but we preferred trying it at any risk to remaining another hour at Letee. The coolies then became sulky, and all but refused to take up their loads ; the servants were equally discontented, saying that nothing but certain death, in one of its most horrible forms, was before them. A good deal of unnecessary delay was caused by these discussions, during which S-n and myself, with two of the servants to carry our rifles, moved off towards the ghaut, seeing which, the coolies took up their loads, and the whole followed at a slow pace, growling and grumbling as much as possible. Not far from the spot on which we had encamped, we obliged to ford a number of wide streams running into the Pubur; and the latter river we forded also, near the point whence it take its rise from the snow. The appearance of the rain here was most remarkable, rushing through an arch of perpetual snow, of a semicircular shape, and most gracefully formed. By this time we were completely drenched, from wading through the river and walking in the snow. As we ascended, however, the clouds grew still darker, and it began to rain heavily, thus making our plight, if possible, somewhat more miserable. were The coolies became quite disheartened, threw down their loads, and refused to move a step further; but we heeded them not, and continued our ascent, which, from the ruggedness of the path, was slow and tiring. We were followed by some of the servants, looking the very picture of woe, their heads so bound up in cloths, that the nose and eyes were the only visible parts of the whole body, for we had provided them with black blankets before leaving Simla, and in these they had entirely rolled themselves up. I am convinced that, in an emergency of any kind, there is not a more helpless animal than a native of the plains of Hindostan. He gives himself up at once, without even making an attempt to better his condition, though it might be in his power to do so. Travelling with such attendants is most annoying, and the fewer a person can manage with, so much the better for his comfort. Large masses of granite, hurled down from the peaks above, lay heaped in confusion on our track, and completely obliterated the usual path in many places; and to discover it again, we were obliged to separate, each taking a contrary direction, and moving zigzag up the hill. The fog was so great, that, to prevent our altogether losing one another, we kept up a constant bellowing until the track was discovered again. At length, with only two followers, we reached the crest of the pass. But all we had gone through, in arriving at that point, appeared mere child's-play when we contemplated what was still before us. The pass itself is not more than from fifteen to twenty feet wide, and stands 15,095 feet above the level of the ocean, with peaks on both sides of it 18,000 feet high. On looking over the north side of the ghaut, we could at first see nothing before us but snow; and, about half-way down, a light, white cloud hung over the face of the mountain, and altogether hid from our view any danger we might have to encounter in attempting to descend. Never did I experience more pain from cold than on this occasion; wet, fatigued, hungry, and exposed to a fierce, cutting blast. We stood in this position for about fifteen minutes, anxiously looking out for the coolies to come up and point out to us some way of getting down, but not a man of them was within hail; and we determined, rather than stand in such misery, to run every risk, and at any rate make the attempt. We made use of our walking-sticks in forming rests for our feet, and, in this way, got down about twenty feet, to where a large square rock projected through the hard mass of snow, but beyond this we dared not venture, and, therefore, we climbed back again, to await the arrival of the paharies (mountain-men.) After sitting a considerable period under the shelter of the rocks, deliberating on what was best to be done if the descent over the snow proved impracticable, we decided on going back to Letee, and afterwards winding round to Mussourie, and from thence return to Simla through the mountains. Just at this moment, our We attention was arrested by the sound of voices, and, on looking round, we were well pleased to see all our servants and coolies in the mouth of the ghaut. Here they halted, and asked for a present of money that they might erect two piles of stones to commemorate our passage over the snow. were glad to do anything that might tend to put the fellows into a good humour so I handed them a rupee, promising, at the same time, that they should have more on our arrival at the first village. They were not long in raising a couple of cairns, and then we called out for a guide. It was apparently a common practice to erect these piles of stones on the occasion of any one crossing the ghaut, and on both sides of the pass we observed several; they were of a conical form, and stood a little higher than a man. Having by this time induced one of our followers to show us the way, we followed him until he came to the mass of rotten rock which we ourselves had previously attained alone, and then, looking down the shining steep, he, with a very grave face, pronounced it impossible to proceed further; but his countenance soon betrayed him, and, seeing his own danger when it was too late to retract (for one touch from us would have hurled him into eternity), he commenced cutting footsteps in the snow with his small axe. We promised him a piece of money if he did his work well, and this had a wonderful influence on him; and he was in such a hurry that he made the intervals between each step so wide, that it became very hazardous work to stretch and push one's foot over the slippery surface. Cold as I felt while standing on the crest of the pass, I was soon in a disagreeable glow of heat-a circumstance to be explained only by the exciting sensation such a frightful descent produced. When we had got beyond the part considered dangerous, the guide pointed out the direction in which we were to proceed, and returned for his usual load, which he had thrown down at the top of the pass. After we had got to the foot of the snow, we found ourselves on a level field of ice, which extended for a considerable distance, and in many parts lay with open jaws, ready to receive any unfortunate soul who might happen to make but one false step. Numbers of the hill men are lost every year crossing over this ghaut-they are either famished in a snow-storm, or else they slip into one of these frightful fissures in the ice, where skeletons of men are often seen below. It was astonishing to see with what steadiness and apparent ease the coolies carried their loads down the almost perpendicular face of the snow. The servants soon followed, and all crossed over the Bouren ghaut without an accident. S- -n and I pushed on ahead at a brisk pace, delighted that we had at length arrived in Kunnaor. Our path lay along the ridge of a steep range of hills, and, looking as far as the eye could reach, we were well pleased to behold a dense forest, lit up with the radiant beams of the sun, whose reappearance we welcomed with a shout! The sight of him urged us to increase our pace, that we might partake of his genial warmth; and, accordingly, we were soon far beyond the pass, and beyond the influence of the cold clouds, which still continued to hang over the mountain's brow. On our arrival at the usual place for encamping, on the north or Kunnaor side of the pass, we sat down to await the arrival of the servants and baggage. When the tent came up, we pitched it on an elevated spot, under the shelter of a high hill, at the base of which we found firewood in abundance; and, having coflected a pile, our khitmatghars set to work, and cooked for us a right good dinner of game, which we had killed on the other side of the ghaut. I should have remarked before, that, when within a short distance of the top of the pass, we observed a very curious sort of little animal, resembling a rabbit, and about the size of a rat, running about amongst the rocks. These little creatures did not seem in the least disturbed by our appearance, but sat up, and looked at us passing. What surprised us was, that where we found them there was neither vegetation, nor any other visible production, with which life could be sustained. Our little encampment was bounded on two sides by rapid streams, one of which issued from the snow immediately below the pass, and the other from the base of a low range of hills not far from the tent. The former of these streams is known as the Borenda torrent, and the latter, after following a course of its own for some distance, flows into it. The high range of mountains to our front was crowned with perpetual snow. As the evening closed in, the light clouds began to roll up the valley towards the ghaut, and soon after rain commenced falling. We then retired to rest—quite ready for it after our day's exertions. (Part III. in our next.) Sonnet TO THE REDBREAST. THOUGH, shrinking from the winter's chilly blast, Here, shivering, mourn the summer that has past, Looks o'er the mountain-tops in pleased surprise, Whose strains familiar let me also hail, C A LEGEND OF THE SNOW-DROP. · "Dark winter freezes, and in storm The wind all-chilling blows; IN the olden time, when fairies sometimes sojourned with us, there was one who was loved by a rich and powerful child of earth. She was beautiful, and he said that he would love her always with a love unchangeable as were all things in fairy-land; so she trusted him, and gave to him her own true heart, and bound her beautiful life to his. But as the years went on, while her love was yet fresh and deep, he wearied of her; and then, weeping bitterly, she said, "I will go away. He will never love me any more. I will go back to fairy-land." For in fairy-land there was no sorrow, and she thought that she should there forget her earthly love. But the gay songs and merry dances brought no joy back to her heart; the ceaseless sunshine of the never-ending summer day seemed but to mock her sorrow with its brightness; and, solitary amidst all her gay companions, she sat, still weeping for her own lost love, and wearying so to close her eyes for ever, and to die. But death cannot enter into fairy-land, and the deserted one wept on, sorrowful and hopeless, for she had no power again to return to earth. "You have grieved long enough," the fairy-queen said, angrily. "Cease your tears now, and join us in our merriment again." Then the desolate one knelt down, and murmured, passionately, "I cannot cease from weeping, for my heart has in it only love and tears! Oh, let me go again! The snow is on the earth; let me go and live beside my love as a snow-flower!" RICHARDSON. ground, their dark, mourning figures passing darkly against the canopy of snow; and amongst them there was only one still clad in the white, glittering robes of fairy-land. And she returned not with them; but, when they reached a great and stately house, sank down before it, and the snow closed round, and hid her in its shroud for evermore. Then, with a low, wailing sound of sorrow, like the sighing of a far-off wind, the solemn train swept back. .* * * The sun rose on the earth-a winter sun, cold and bright-and it shone abroad, sparkling on the white veil beneath which all nature lay and slept; but where the sorrowing child of fairyland had made her grave, there had sprung up a little bed of delicate dark leaves, and from the midst of them a solitary snow-white flower arose, with its pale head bowed down, as if in deepest sadness. "Ah, it is lovely! Gather it for me my sweet snow-drop!" a beautiful woman said to one who stood beside her. He stooped to gather it, but, as he touched the flower, a low voice of unutterable sorrow whispered, weeping, through the leaves, "Oh, love me now! Give not all thy love to her, for I have come back from fairy-land to live thus again with thee !" And ever since that day, when every other flower has died, the solitary snowdrop rises from its cold, white bed, and men rejoice to see it blossoming in the sunless winter days alone; but while they love it for its pure and simple beauty, they know not that the first snow-drop that ever bloomed had its root far in the depths of a broken heart. G. M. C. COMMUNITIES IN THE MIDDLE AGES. PART III.-THE CITIES OF SPAIN AND GERMANY. THE Occupation of Spain by the Moors in the eighth century diverted its social and political history from the general course pursued by the other kingdoms of Europe during the middle ages. After the downfall of the Roman empire, it had been overrun by the Visigoths, who, in common with the barbarians in the rest of Europe, had embraced Christianity. On the establish ment of the Moorish dominion, and with it of the Mohammedan religion, the Arabic language, and the manners of the East, many of the Gothic nobility, too deeply attached to their newly adopted faith, and to the language and manners of their fathers, to succumb to the foreign innovations thus introduced, fled to the inaccessible mountains of Asturias, where they established themselves in the independent enjoyment of the rites and comforts of Christianity, and preserved in their integrity their ancient manners and laws. They were, from time to time, joined by others in their secluded retreat, until they at length attained sufficient strength to commence a sort of guerilla warfare upon the nearest Moorish settlements, at first only for purposes of plunder, but afterwards expanded, by the encouragement of a constant succession of victories, into a nobler and more aspiring design. They established among themselves a regular system of government, disposed their forces for the carrying on of systematic warfare, and bent their energies to the attainment of a no less elevated aim than the restoration of Spanish independence. Trained by constant practice to regard warfare as the principal object of life, and fired by the invincible enthusiasm of men fighting for country, and liberty, and religion, they possessed an immense superiority in every respect, save that of numbers, over their Mohammedan foes. The latter had lost much of the religious zeal that had been their mightiest auxiliary during their original conquests; they had thrown off the yoke of the caliphs, and ceased all connection with their countrymen in Arabia, and devoted themselves more exclusively to the arts and sciences, and to the enervating enjoyments and luxuries of civilised life. Still, however, they continued to possess much of their pristine valour; and, though uniform success attended the mode of warfare carried on by the Asturian mountaineers, its steps were extremely slow and gradual-so much so, that, if we are to place reliance on the magniloquent language of the Spaniards themselves, it was not until after eight centuries of continued war, and until three thousand seven hundred battles had been fought, that the last remnant of Moorish dominion vanished from the Peninsula. From the desultory character of this protracted contest, the country, while it lasted, was in a constant state of terror, insecurity, and confusion, surpassing even the most disturbed portion of the feudal period in other countries. The baronial castles, which, in the latter instance, afforded a secure refuge to the weak and defenceless from the attacks of robbers, or the emergencies occasioned by private war, were, in the former, of no avail against the systematic operations of regular troops. In Spain, therefore, recourse was had to union for the attainment of strength and security; and the cities, as they were gradually acquired from the Moors, seem to have been fortified, and to have become the resort, as well of those who required the protection which they afforded, as of persons of valour and power, who were there enabled to make a more energetic stand against the enemy, and to concert in union the general plans to be pursued. Many of the most considerable of these cities were made the capitals of the small states into which the country was divided during the struggles with the Moors, and thus acquired many advantages, while the trade and manufactures that had been introduced by the latter, and continued and carried on with vigour by the Christians, combined to place the Spanish cities in a |