136 



MARROO. 



structing little huts of bent birch-boughs covered over with 

 birch-bark, and were doubtless warmer and more comfortable 

 than I was in my tent. Cashmerees generally manage to 

 keep themselves warm in the coldest weather with their 

 kangrees (small earthenware bowls covered with basket-work), 



which they fill with red- 

 hot ashes, and, when 

 either sitting or lying, 

 place under the long 

 sack-like gowns, which 

 are invariably worn by 

 both sexes in Cashmere. 

 There was now barely 

 sufficient food for two 

 days left, and I was be- 



Cashmere " Kangree" or fire-basket. 



ginning to think that, if the snowstorm continued, we should 

 have to pay another cold visit to the dead bear this time 

 for meat. Under such circumstances there was nothing to 

 be done but to retrace our steps down the glen, and make 

 for Marroo by the lower route, for Eamzan said it would now 

 be as useless as dangerous to attempt the upper one. Indeed, 

 from the ominous rumbling sounds which were occasionally 

 heard in that direction, we could tell that avalanches were 

 falling there ; so we struck the camp, and commenced plod- 

 ding down through the snow. 



Although we started at daylight, and the distance was not 

 very great, we did not reach the foot of the glen until evening. 

 What a wearisome trudge it was, too, with the cold sleet 

 beating pitilessly down on us as we floundered through the 

 deep soft snow ! The shikarees and myself had enough to do 

 in helping the coolies along with their loads, until lower 

 down we got clear of it. Shortly before reaching our camp- 

 ing-place, we came across a fine brown bear, which I managed 

 to slay with one bullet. This was some compensation for the 

 hard day's work. 



