A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



The Rajah of Tolti was very civil, doubtless the 

 effect of "perwana." The village seemed a flourish- 

 ing one, and there was a large polo-ground, which 

 is to be found in every Balti village where there is 

 sufficient level space. It was much warmer here, 

 and there were mosquitoes. 



I had before this discovered a way to defeat the 

 other plagues which had made life a burden, viz., 

 by tying up my sleeping-garb, previously well 

 sprinkled with Keating, at the wrists and ankles. 

 The next morning the Rajah sent me a bunch of 

 roses and a horse to ride as far as the next halting- 

 place, a pleasant change after the native ponies. 

 The road was typical Indus Valley as far as the next 

 camp, Parkutta, but there were fewer galleries. In 

 one place, as I came round a corner, I saw Babu 

 Lai, Sekour Khan, and a coolie climbing on all 

 fours like monkeys along some dangerously steep 

 rocks above the river, and on looking at the road 

 saw that the reason of their doing so was that the 

 track disappeared into the roaring torrent. How- 

 ever, not feeling inclined to climb the "parri" if 

 it could be avoided, and having the horse with me, 

 I tried the depth, and found that the road was only 

 submerged some three feet or so. I waded, and was 

 glad that I had done so, as the horse plunged, lost 

 his footing, and, had I been on his back, I should 

 in all probability have sought the bottom of the 

 Indus and been no more seen. About here the 



cultivation becomes more frequent again, and 



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