30 SPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF KASHMIR chap. 



an inch thick, with an ingenious arrangement of strings 

 of the same substance as the sole, whereby this is fastened 

 to the foot. As one of these strings is intended to come 

 up between the large toe and the others, it is necessary 

 that the sock worn with the grass shoe should have a 

 separate division for the large toe. The traveller, about 

 to put on a grass shoe, dons first one of these socks, 

 usually of puttoo wool, and over it a clumsy but 

 comfortable quilted sock, also provided with the toe 

 division above mentioned. This quilted sock is made 

 like an ammunition boot, and is laced up the front in the 

 same way. Over this the grass shoe is fastened. The 

 result, as far as appearance goes, is particularly clumsy 

 and ungainly, but for practical use in snow, or amongst 

 slippery rocks, or on a steep slope, there is nothing I 

 have seen to come near it. I had the curiosity to 

 measure one of my shoes one day. I traced the outline 

 on paper, and found that the greatest length and breadth 

 at right angles to each other was 1 2f by 5-g- inches. 



Twelve of my coolies had, as I surmised, spent the 

 night under a convenient rock where wood and water 

 were obtainable. They walked in quietly in the morning, 

 and I made no remarks for fear they should desert, but I 

 noted the names of the twelve for future fjuidance. This 

 seemed to have a great effect, and for some days after- 

 wards they were asking the shikari what the sahib was 

 going to have done to them. Also I gave orders that 

 my bedding was invariably in future to be carried by a 

 permanent coolie, so that it might always be sure to 

 arrive in time. But as this was a heavier load than these 

 lazy Kashmiris liked to carry, I had much trouble after- 



