186 



RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



way. The dirtiest Irish shanty was clean compared with 

 it ; round the fire several chickens and village dogs were 

 amicably seated, and a goat warmed himself at the steam 

 from a kettle. 



From Nurpoor we left the hills, descending by a steep 

 zigzag path down a ravine where leopards are sometimes 

 found. At the foot we came to a little salt mine, around 



AT NURPOOR. 



which were a crowd of coolies waiting to load their little 

 black donkeys with salt. Then we passed through a 

 narrow, picturesque gorge, with high red precipices on 

 either side, and here and there a white waterfall of dried- 

 up salt pouring out of the cliff. At every point of vantage 

 is a small guard-house of the revenue police ; and I believe 

 they form a cordon entirely round the salt district. 



