" She was also seized
with a craze for Buddhism. The objects that everywhere particularly
attracted her were the old Buddhist temples and tombs and sculptures
with which India is studded. Of these she had taken some hundreds of
views, all printed by herself with the greatest care and precision.
But in India, after all, Buddhism is a dead creed. Its monuments alone
remain; she was anxious to see the Buddhist religion in its living
state; and that she could only do in these remote outlying Himalayan
valleys.
Our outfit, therefore, included a dark tent for Hilda's photographic
apparatus; a couple of roomy tents to live and sleep in; a small
cooking-stove; a cook to look after it; half-a-dozen bearers; and the
highly recommended guide who knew his way about the country. In three
days we were ready, to Sir Ivor's great delight. He was fond of his
pretty wife, and proud of her, I believe; but when once she was away
from the whirl and bustle of the London that she loved, it was a relief
to him, I fancy, to pursue his work alone, unhampered by her restless
and querulous childishness.
On the morning when we were to make our start, the guide who was "well
acquainted with the mountains" turned up--as villainous-looking a person
as I have ever set eyes on.
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