KASHMIR VALLEYS 117 



be left to its oozy bed, but my boatman kindly wished 

 to do a good turn to the villagers, and demanded that 

 they should search for it. As he was responsible for its 

 loss, I suggested that he should reward them. This, 

 he answered with pride, would not be suitable in a class 

 of establishment such as mine, so for half an hour 

 shining " brown torsos " bobbed up and down, looking 

 like a shoal of porpoises." Advice was shouted from the 

 bank, spluttering were heard from below the waters, 

 two small fishes were caught by lithe fingers amid great 

 rejoicings; finally, my knife appeared, and twice its 

 value was distributed in backsheesh for its recovery! 



