148 THE JOURNEY TO LADAKH 



the ndUis in this direction have been shot out long ago, 

 and the sportsman should not be tempted to waste his 

 time among them, whatever stories local shikaris may 

 tell him. Just at this confluence, by my camp, a part of 

 the mountain on the right bank of the Bhaga had fallen 

 upon the angle formed by the two streams. The vast 

 masses fell and spread out all over that part of the land, 

 and were scattered about in the wildest confusion. A 

 small village which occupied the site was completely 

 overwhelmed, and not a soul escaped ; even all the fields 

 belonging to the place were blotted out. This disaster 

 must have occurred centuries ago, as the existing face of 

 the mountain now shows no signs of the disruption, nature 

 and weather having effaced all traces of it. There is a 

 huge gap in the mountain side (now covered up with soil 

 and grass), out of which this mass of rock must have fallen. 

 The coolies and supplies having arrived at last, I was free 

 to move onward. The next stage is Patsio (11 miles). 

 Darcha is the largest village, that is, human habitation 

 with walls and a roof, I shall see till I get to Shushal, 

 three weeks hence ; and no supplies will be procurable 

 till Eokchen is reached — eight marches ahead. I laid in 

 supplies for twenty days — also fuel ; we were therefore on 

 the safe side. The road was in very bad repair ; for the 

 latter half of the stage it had been carried away by the 

 melting snow. It took us five and a half hours to do the 

 distance. Patsio is the place where the great annual fair 

 is held : traders from both directions meet here and 

 exchange their goods. The trade begins in July, and lasts 

 for a couple of months. The Tibetans bring their flocks 

 down here in thousands, carrying salt in little woollen 

 bags across the sheep's back ; the fleece is then sold and 

 sheared off on the spot ; the salt is disposed of at the 

 same time. Grain principally is taken in exchange, and 



