Ill TRAVELLING THROUGH SOFT SNOW 37 



The Rentons had not started with me, but the two 

 sportsmen we found in the hut when we arrived the day 

 before had come on. The going was firm and not 

 difficult until the sun rose. The path consisted merely 

 of the track made by the leading coolies, and very severe 

 labour it entailed after a time. It was simply a series of 

 holes, such as are made by an elephant when he goes 

 across a partially dry rice field. Into these holes we had 

 to put our feet, lifting them high from one hole to the 

 next. The labour of stepping like this was bad enough 

 while the snow was firm, but became very great when 

 the risen sun began to warm the air. Frequently the 

 bottom of the hole into which I put my foot gave way 

 when my weight came on it, and I sank into snow up to 

 the hips. Occasionally I did not hit off the right spot, 

 and the same result \vould follow. 



I reached the Machahoi rest-house, some 10 miles 

 from Baltal, about 12.30, feeling exceedingly done, and 

 shortly after the two other sportsmen came in. With 

 great difficulty, owing to the fact that no trees grow- 

 near Machahoi and there is no village, enough wood 

 was procured to make some tea. The Rentons arrived 

 a little later, and on the trouble about wood being 

 represented, resolved to go on to Mataiyun, the regular 

 stage. The other two and I were so sick of going 

 through the soft snow, that we resolved to stay where we 

 were, and do with anything in the way of dinner that 

 could be prepared. But as there was no use in keeping 

 all the coolies in that dreary spot, I sent on every load 

 but those actually required for the night. There were 

 three rooms in the rest-house, which was a counterpart 



