5. During the "rains" the rivers become full to the brim, and the whole
land is fresh and green. Sometimes the "rains" do not come at all. Then
the crops wither away, and the people starve.

6. In our country we are never sure of the weather. It changes so often
that we talk about it a great deal. In India nobody talks about the
weather. During seven months of the year every day is fine.

7. In our country we almost always have plenty of water for our crops,
and for drinking and washing. Plenty of fresh water is a great blessing
to a land. In many parts of India water is very scarce.

8. I told you that the great river Ganges is not far away from little
Hugh's home. This grand river begins in the mountains of North India. I
wish you could see these mountains. They are the highest on earth. They
rise up from the plains like a huge wall, and their tops are always
covered with fields of ice and snow.

9. These ice-fields slowly move down the mountain sides. Then they melt,
and this gives rise to the Ganges and to the other great rivers of North
India.

10. Millions of the Indian people love the Ganges, and they have good
reason to do so. It gives water and food to more than twice as many
people as dwell in the British Islands.

11. Many Indians think that every drop of water in the river is holy.
They believe that if they bathe in its waters their souls will be washed
clean from sin.