190 AFOOT THROUGH THE 



CHAPTER XVI 



Trees are the most civil society. . . . Acres and acres full of patriarchs 

 contiguously rooted, their green tops billowing in the wind, their stalwart 

 young twigs pushing up about their knees, a whole forest healthy and beautif.nl 

 giving colour to the li^ht, giving perfume to the air ; what is this but the most 

 imposing piece in nature's repertory? Stevenson. 



Worried by my camp I wander into the woods Am. -consoled 

 by the trees but depressed by the absence of Nanga Parbat 

 Catch a glimpse of him, but my raptures are rudely 

 interrupted by irrelevant menials. 



As my camp was to be of a more permanent order than 

 any I had had, a good deal of arranging was required, 

 and as usual when any work was on hand, the 

 sound of much talking and not a little heated discussion 

 was to be heard among the men. Each was quite 

 certain that that afternoon of labour would cause many 

 and complicated complaints, and they were all equally 

 sure that provisions would be unobtainable, cooking an 

 impossibility, and the Memsahib's life a misery. 



For all difficulties raised there is but one possible 

 answer in this land of excuses and procrastination, 

 " juldi bandobast karo " (do the business quickly). So 

 having spoken, I wrapped myself in impenetrable 

 reserve, watched the changing sky, and considered my 



