LETTER FROiM BUNJI COMMANDANT 99 



our plans. This is a copy of the missive, which was 

 written on a dirty half-sheet of letter-paper : 



" Sir, — To-day received a written order on nie that in 

 Yasin enemies reached for battle. Therefore I be^s that 

 you kindly return in Boonjee. If you cannot come, then 

 send me certification soonly. — Your servant, 



"Farman All" 



My friend, Bagh Singh, the commandant, had, it seems, 

 gone in hot haste to Gilgit, so the letter was signed by the 

 fort adjutant now in command. On the back of it was a 

 Persian letter, more detailed and much more comprehensible. 



"From Fahmax Alt, Adjutant. — The General (at 

 Gilgit) has informed me, by telegram, that Pehlwan Khan 

 and Mulk Aman, the rebels, have created a disturbance in 

 Yasin, and have collected an armed force. For this reason 

 I request the favour of your at once leaving your shooting 

 ground, which is close to foreign territory and most danger- 

 ous, and returning to Biinji. I have received very urgent 

 orders from the General on this point. If you still remain 

 after this intimation, kindly send me a certificate to the 

 effect that you do so on your own responsibility. 



" Farman Ali, of the Dhi'raj Kegiment." 



It was obvious also that our supplies were stopped. I had 

 sent down for a supply of flour to last three days more, 

 and Manawar informed me that no flour was to be had ; 

 a sudden scarcity had fallen on the land ! I was obliged, 

 therefore, to give in, so packed up the skins and heads and 

 marched for the main stream at once. My shooting in 

 this valley was over. I had been thirty-one days here, 

 and had gone through much rough and hard work, bagging 



