240 JERKING THE MEAT. 



emerged from under my warm blankets, and performed my 

 morning toilet, which consisted chiefly in donning my boots. 

 The fellow soon returned, and after leading me a stiff pull up 

 through the forest, pointed out one of the former birds, at 

 which piece of stupidity my temper was considerably ruffled. 



In the forenoon we shouldered our limited kit, and made 

 for the camp, which was not very far off. I had directed 

 some men to go and prospect the ground towards the head of 

 the glen in which the tents were pitched. They now, much 

 to my disappointment, reported it as being entirely blocked 

 up with snow, and the torrent quite impassable ; but being 

 fully alive to the lazy and mendacious propensities of the 

 Cashmeree, I was resolved to go and have a look myself. It 

 was necessary, however, to remain where we were for a day, 

 as the greater part of one markhor had still to be fetched, 

 and the whole of the other was still lying in the snow-cleft 

 where it had fallen. This delay afforded an opportunity for 

 a general washing-up of dirty clothes. What a luxury it was 

 to have a bath, and to turn in again on my camp-bed and 

 be lulled to sleep by the resounding din of the torrent, that 

 hurried down impetuously within a few feet of the tent ! 

 And as morning dawned, how pleasing to hear the black- 

 birds (just like our old friends at home), which were numer- 

 ous here, mingling their notes with the rushing sound of the 

 water. As there was an icy blast coming down the glen, and 

 it began to rain heavily, and most of the men were away 

 after the venison, I thought I could do nothing better than 

 take another turn in my warm bed until a pretty late hour. 



On the arrival of the meat, my Goorkha servant Kirpa 

 at once proceeded to cut quantities of it into long strips, 

 with a view to jerking it for future consumption; and ere 

 long, yards and yards of it were hanging in festoons from 

 frames of sticks, constructed over smoky fires lighted all 

 around. 



A terrific thunderstorm, accompanied by hail and rain, 



