A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



from Simla to Leh. Whenever we halted in these 

 bleak regions, if it was afternoon and the daily gale 

 had begun to blow, I improvised the following 

 shelter, which may be found of use to visitors in 

 these parts, as very often one cannot find even a 

 convenient boulder behind which to crouch on the 

 barren wastes. Opening an umbrella I placed it 

 on the ground, head to wind, and, as it would of 

 course have been blown away immediately if left to 

 itself, I used to cover it with a blanket well weighted 

 down all round with stones or gravel. This formed 

 a fair shelter alike from scorching sun and freezing 

 wind, to both of which one is exposed simultaneously 

 in this pleasant climate, and made a fairly comfort- 

 able resting-place until it was time to continue the 

 march, or till the tents arrived, on occasions when I 

 happened to be the first to arrive at our camping- 

 ground. We saw several more gazelle that day, 

 but I did not go after them, and we finally reached 

 the end of our march, a place called Ooti, rather 

 late in the evening. Here our camp was pitched 

 on what might (by a slight stretch of imagination) 

 be likened to a bit of Scotch moor, the ground being 

 boggy and tussocky. 



The next morning, just as I was going to 

 breakfast before starting, I saw a sand-grouse come 

 down to drink, and shot him ; and knowing the 

 habits of the bird from frequent encounters with 

 him in Egypt and India, I sent on all the camp, but 

 waited behind myself, thinking that probably flocks 



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