A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



had been got out of the way as the mud stream swept past 

 the village, carrying away trees, walls, fields and the very 

 land on which the camp had stood down into the swollen 

 and discoloured river. A lively exchange of arrows con- 

 veyed the assurance that all was well, and congratulations 

 that the debacle had not occurred at night. 



On the completion of the bridge heads an iron arrow 

 connected them by a fishing line. Along this a rope was 

 passed, and the mails were put across. A telegraph wire 

 was next placed in position, and within three weeks from 

 this time a combined cantilever and suspension bridge, 

 one span of "which was one hundred and twenty-five feet 

 across, was ready, to carry the traffic. The road was then 

 diverted to pass along this route until the main bridge at 

 Kargil should be reconstructed. The four broken bridges 

 of the Lamayuru Nalah were next rebuilt, establishing free 

 caravan communications with Leh. 



The whole of the difficulties were not yet overcome. 

 The Shyok River to the north of Leh on the further side 

 of the Khardeny Pass was in full flood. The rafts had 

 been wrecked and the caravans from Yarkand were blocked 

 in the Nubra Valley. The Ladakhis and Baltis at Kargil 

 and Leh stated that the trade was at a standstill for the 

 present year at least. 



My arrival at Leh caused a change in public opinion. 

 The deputation which met the party below the town were 

 assured that every endeavour would be made to re-open 

 the road. Planks and material were hurried over the 

 Khardong, a pass 17,500 feet high leading into the Shyok 

 valley. The river at Sati was indeed found to be imprac- 

 ticable, but further down the valley there is a village 

 where in former days a bridge was said to have existed, 

 built in the time of a native governor of Ladakh, Mehtar 

 Mangal. The remains of one pier are still visible. At 

 this point two rafts were constructed, and an attempt made 

 to connect the two banks by a hawser suspended from the 



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