A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



It was 6.30 A.M. on the 22nd of May before I 

 left Ganderbal and started on my expedition to 

 the higher regions. Perhaps, before going farther, 

 it will be well for me to introduce the chief 

 individuals of the personnel of my expedition who 

 accompanied me without change throughout my 

 journey. First, and most important, was my 

 Hindu bearer, by name Babu Lai. He had been 

 retained for me, before I arrived in India, by an 

 old brother officer who was at that time serving 

 on the Viceroy's staff. To me Babu Lai was 

 invaluable. Having twice been on active service 

 as an officer's servant in mountain campaigns, he 

 had acquired a knowledge of camp life that made a 

 considerable difference to my comfort. A good 

 mountaineer, he was always willing and hard- 

 working ; and I really believe that he took as much 

 interest in his master's sport as did " the sahib " 

 himself. Never was any work too hard for him. 

 After a long and weary march there he was to be 

 seen, washing clothes, mending them, or doing 

 something equally useful, as cheerfully as if he had 

 been in camp all day. He alone of my camp spoke 

 a few words of English. The head of the sporting 

 department was my shikari, Salia Lohn, well known 

 to many sportsmen who have shot in Kashmir. He 

 also had been retained for me some months before- 

 hand, by the aforesaid friend at Simla, as being 

 generally acknowledged to be one of the best 

 shikaris in Kashmir. A square-built, active man, 



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