78 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



make but slow progress. There was no pathway or even 

 the sign of a track to guide us, and the certainty of falling- 

 over a precipice if we wandered in a wrong direction. 



" After some hours' weary walk, feeling our way like 

 blind men, about ten o'clock we made out a fire some miles 

 below, which was doubtless our camp. Shortly afterwards a 

 speck of light dancing about in the distance like a Will-o'- 

 the-Wisp, turned out to be some of our men with lanterns 



in search of us. A huge 

 camp fire and some steam- 

 ing hot grog prepared by 

 the thoughtful Santan were 

 a very welcome sight, and 

 I felt quite sorry for 

 SINGrui: - Rahman, whose principles 



would not allow him to touch spirituous liquor. However, 

 the zest with which he swallowed his tea would have 

 charmed Sir Wilfrid. Indeed our shikari is a very thorough- 

 going abstainer, and prides himself upon never having taken 

 tobacco, opium or alcohol. Tea, very strong and sweet, is 

 his only vice, — at least he says so." 



November 9th. — Still overcast, with drizzling sleet. 

 The pass is quite hidden by dense clouds, and it is snowing 

 heavily on the mountains. Rahman says the winter's snow 

 has begun, and that we are lucky to have crossed the pass. 

 It will be probably many days before the snow gets firm on 



