BAD GROUND. 393 



rocks rose so abruptly from the water that we were obliged 

 to take a higher route along the steep hill-face. Each mo- 

 ment the ground became more frightful, until at last it 

 seemed as though further progress were next thing to im- 

 possible. Ganna now took the lead as we essayed to cross a 

 terribly steep incline at a height of several hundred feet 

 above the raging rock-bound torrent, where the short slip- 

 pery grass that partially covered the almost vertical slope 

 served only to make the footing more precarious. There 

 was no way of turning this place, unless perhaps by making 

 a very long round above. For about 150 yards there was 

 often absolutely nothing between this world and the next 

 but the breadth of less than half a footsole, chipped with 

 the iron-shod point of an alpenstock, out of the hard ground, 

 in such places as there happened to be no protruding scraps 

 of rock which might afford better footing. As Puddoo re- 

 marked, " For ourselves it was hazardous enough, but for the 

 laden men it would be positively dangerous." 



On our reaching more practicable ground we waited for the 

 coolies to come up, as my two companions seemed to have 

 misgivings about the lower-range men being able to proceed 

 any farther with their loads. As we expected, when they 

 got to the bad bit they stopped, and called out to us that 

 they objected to crossing it. But Puddoo shouted jeeringly 

 back, taunting them with being no mountain-men, and telling 

 them that if they were afraid to come on they had better go 

 home and fetch their women to help them, and suchlike 

 banter, until they at last agreed to break up their loads and 

 bring the things over a few at a time. I was much relieved 

 in mind when they all arrived safely at the only possible place 

 we could find near at hand to bivouac on for camping was 

 out of the question which they never would have reached 

 with their loads, had it not been for Puddoo's persuasive 

 powers, and the assistance of the Tolma men who were with 

 them. The spot we had selected was a narrow sloping shelf 



