Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 167 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

0167	Among the Celestials : vol.1

CHAP. VI.] A REMARKABLE SUNSET.

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till he became a mere dot in the distance. I

could not help envying him, for in the same

direction, and with nothing apparently between

me and it but distance, was my home, and I felt

myself struggling to pierce through space, and

see myself returning, like Ma-to-la, home. But

the dull reality was that I was trudging along

beside a string of heavy, silent, slow-going

camels, and on I had to go, for hour after hour

through the night with monotonous regularity.

Suddenly, after travelling for nine hours, the

gravel plain ended, and we passed over a stretch

of grass and halted by a small stream. Close

by were pitched four tents (yurts), and this was

Ma-te-la's home.

The same evening I noted a very remarkable

sunset. Sunsets in the desert are always bright

and glowing and rich in colour. But even in

the Indian hills during the rains I have never

seen such a peculiar tinge as the clouds showed

that night. It was not red, it was not purple,

but a mixture between the two very deep,

and at the same time shining very brightly. I

have seen at Simla and in. Switzerland more

glorious sunsets, with richer diffusion and

variety of colours, but never one of such a

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