WANTED— A SIDE-SADDLE. 59 



dangerously outwards, probably from the effects of an 

 earthquake. A colonnade, of carved pillars and arches 

 forms a quadrangle round the main edifice. There arc 

 eighty- four columns : a number sacred to Hindoos and 

 appropriate to the sun, being a multiple of the number 

 of days in the week and months in the year. 



After a short stay we push on, and in about an hour 

 rejoin the direct road. Here Ave found the ayah quite 

 broken down, so I am obliged to put her in my dandy, 

 and continue my way on foot. It was a lovely evening 

 for walking, but the "man of the world" was scandalised 

 and rushed up with a diminutive pony — of course no side- 

 saddle. The road, or rather track, was now frightfully 

 steep, climbing like a staircase in short sweeps up the 

 face of the mountain, and 1 was only too glad after a 

 twelve-nnli ■ walk to have anything to carry me up, in 

 spite of the saddle. But I am afraid I shall never join 

 the '•advanced ladies," and had it not been for Rahman 

 and Khaira on either side, several times when climbing 

 the steeper parts, I feel sure, I should have slipped hack 

 over my pony's tail. 



We camped at the top of the pass, which crosses the 

 fir-clad ranee of hills dividing the Islamabad from the 

 Nowboog valley. 



It was very cold towards dusk, and poor Santan, who 

 had walked nearly all the way, did not arrive till late, and 



