8 JOURNEY TO THE SHOOTING GROUND 



their summer haunts about the middle of that montli, and 

 to stay all through the calling period. It is waste of time 

 to wait for them in certain localities which they frequent 

 during these migrations. They will be found there for a 

 few days, then suddenly disappear, and the precious days 

 of the calling season will be lost hunting after them in an 

 abandoned forest. The difficulty, however, is to follow 

 them from valley to valley without trespassing on ground 

 already occupied by another sportsman. The universal 

 custom in Kashmir is for the stag-hunter to secure a likely 

 valley and stick to it, taking his chance of getting a few 

 shots during the short calling time. The method I suggest 

 would be considered downright poaching, and would en- 

 gender much bad blood, and create endless disputes ; 

 but it is certainly the likeliest way of securing good 

 heads. 



Marching up the Gagai stream next day, I came to the 

 tent of a gentleman, who, though camped here for a 

 month, had shot only a single bear. Went on and came 

 to a bridge — to wit, a fine sapling of slender girth, and oh, 

 so elastic ! The coolies passed over, load and all, some 

 splendidly and some badly. Sharafa was Al at this busi- 

 ness : he crossed it over and over again, carrying the loads 

 of those who had not nerve enough for the undertaking. 

 My turn came last : Sharafa came to help (very unneces- 

 sarily), and took my hand. When half-way over, the 

 sapling began to spring up and down: tight-rope 

 dancing was nothing to it. Sharafa fell into the stream 

 and was carried away a couple of yards, but soon recovered 

 his legs, while I clung on with hands and legs under 

 the sapling, like a monkey. Sharafa came up again, and 

 with his aid I got across at the expense of some skin and 

 an essential part of my attire. Sharafa was in a sad 

 plight, as the water was icy cold. It was early morning, 



