18 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



quickly as it came, for there have been no cases since. It 

 seems to be a disputed point whether it was really cholera 

 contracted from drinking contaminated milk or poisoning 

 from unwholesome tinned provisions. Anyhow we con- 

 gratulate ourselves on having brought our preserved milk 

 and tinned stores fresh from England. 



Wednesday, October 12th. — We started at ten this 

 morning in a fresh tonga which is to take us all the way 

 to Baramula. There is a good road so far, but no farther, 

 and the journey thence to Srinagar is by water. Another 

 fellow-countryman of Mr. Rustomjee made all our arrange- 

 ments, and indeed our kind Bombay friend appears to have 

 laid a dak of Parsees for us all over the Punjab. 



At first we drive down-hill, until the bank of the river 

 Jhelum is reached, which we then follow. At Kohala, where 

 we had luncheon, there is a good bungalow near the little 

 native village. Here we overtook our ekkas with the ayah 

 and luoo-age. They ought to have been miles ahead of this, 

 and unless they go quicker we shall have to wait for them 

 at Baramula. AVe tried to bribe the drivers to push on with 

 promises of backsheesh, but " Bahut achha, Sahib," " All 

 right, Sir," is all we can get from them. 



The weather had been threatening all the morning, and 

 whilst we were at luncheon a violent thunderstorm came on, 

 and we had to wait a couple of hours before the heavy rain 

 ceased. We then crossed the river by a suspension bridge, 



