108 



RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



self-respecting French or English cook would think it 

 possible to send up a dinner. 



November 22nd. — We start for the foot of the pass. 

 It is a perfect day, the sky cloudless and of a deep Italian 

 blue. The distant landscape stands out sharp and clear 

 after yesterday's snow. Miles away we make out the 

 Chineam Pass we crossed a fortnight since, now a white 



AT THE FOOT OF THE TADRI PASS. 



impassable mass of snow. After a long climb through 

 the pine forests, we reach a small wooden cattle shed — 

 our halt for the night. The servants were delighted to 

 get a shelter in which they could light a fire, but the 

 place was so dirty we pitched our tents outside. It was 

 bitterly cold, and we tried to warm ourselves at the fire 

 lit on the floor in the centre of the shed. But the 

 dense smoke without outlet for escape half choked any 



