A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



of the Zogi-La, promising bad weather on the top 

 of the range ; but this was of little consequence at 

 this season of the year, as there was not much fear 

 of fresh snow falling so early here, and the Pass 

 itself would be a green valley instead of the snowy 

 wilderness that we had crossed on our way up from 

 Kashmir. The Valley of Mataiyan was as imposing 

 as ever, and here I shot a fine specimen of the 

 Kashmiri marmot {Arctomys caudatus) in his winter 

 coat. I had some difficulty in finding one of these 

 animals, a fact which I had not expected, con- 

 sidering the large numbers that I had seen in this 

 place on my way up : I suppose that they had by 

 this time entered their hibernating quarters. For 

 a second time I was foiled in my attempt to cross 

 the river opposite the camp at Mataiyan, owing to 

 the depth of the river ; but on this occasion I went 

 about a mile lower down, and there forded the 

 stream. The current was swift and the water up 

 to the top of the saddle ; but I got over safely, 

 though Salia (who arrived in camp some hours 

 later, having had to go back to Pandras, four miles 

 lower down, to cross by the bridge) was very cross, 

 and said that I should not have attempted it, as it 

 was very dangerous. 



These Kashmiris seem to have a wholesome 

 dread of mountain torrents, and they are perhaps 

 right, as the water sometimes comes down like a 

 wall. On leaving Mataiyan the hillside became 



clothed with birch trees and shrubs, now glorious 



246 



