244 STAG AND BEAR SHOOTING IN KASHMIR 



up the slope. I had to run out and get clear of the rock 

 before I could fire, by which time the bear was nearly 

 fifty yards away, but another bullet cut short his career,, 

 and he subsided on the spot. Kamal regained his legs 

 and his senses as the rifle cracked the second time. 

 When he saw the result of the shot, he ran up to the dead 

 animal and fired volleys of abuse at him : the Kashmiri 

 shikari all over. I daresay he was not afraid, but the 

 suddenness of the rencontre quite upset him. He said 

 his foot slipped ! Shortly after, he pretended to become 

 seriously ill while crossing the pass — the Kashmiri again. 

 The Kashmiri is the oddest mixture of childishness, 

 cunning, bluster, and swagger ; they are also perfect at 

 skulking and shamming. The best plan is to ignore their 

 groans and pantomime of suffering ; if they complain, offer 

 them their wages and tell them to go home. 



I was unfortunate in the weather again at this place ; 

 we were literally snowed up for two days and could not 

 move. After forty-eight hours' continuous snow it was 

 twelve inches deep about the tent. The coolies had 

 finished their stock of food, and, fearful of being snowed up, 

 clamoured for a start. So I was obliged to move down 

 towards Kashmir. It was a great disappointment, for 

 signs of bear were numerous, and I made certain of 

 making a good bag after the weather cleared. During all 

 this snowy time a single snipe had been lying up by the 

 stream close to my tent ; I heard his plaintive " scape,, 

 scape," often, day and night, as if he too were protesting 

 against the ghastly weather. I put him as I started, and 

 he fiew off in the direction we were taking, evidently 

 having made up his mind to clear out, as I had done. 

 Bear tracks were fresh in the snow, all in the direction 

 we were going, — even they had a poor opinion of the 

 weather ! We gradually ascended to the foot of another 



