S HONG us 73 



suddenly saw the green oasis of Shongus before us, and 

 about 2 miles away. Some black spots near the place 

 were shown by the glass to be coolies with loads, and we 

 perceived that we were in sight of Bond's men getting 

 into their camp. Shongus is about 1 7 miles from Malupur. 



The question then arose what was to be done. If I 

 went on I should either have to race Bond for the 

 Haramosh nala next day, or agree to divide the shooting 

 with him. If not I could stay where I was on the 

 sand, and then getting up about 3 a.m. pass Bond's camp 

 m the night, and making a forced march reach Sarsal 

 ty the evening of the 1 2th. This, however, did not 

 s^em straight, and, moreover, I had by this time gathered 

 from Abdulla that there was enough shooting in the Hara- 

 mosh nalas for two guns. Further, Bond was on short 

 leave, and could not occupy the ground for more than a 

 month at the outside. So all things considered I resolved 

 to go on, and shordy after walked into Bond's camp, and 

 introduced myself, greatly, I am afraid, to his disgust. 



After some conversation and consulting between our 

 respective shikaris, we setded that the fairest thing to do 

 was to see the ground when we got to Sarsal, and then 

 after dividing it into two, toss for choice. Bond kindly 

 offered to lend me a small spare tent of his, but there was 

 no need to trouble him for it, as my bed had, I found, 

 been made on the grass under an apricot-tree, and there 

 did not seem much chance of rain. It was wet, however, 

 during the night, but I had my waterproof sheet over my 

 bedding, and was none the worse. 



The next morning we were off shordy after daybreak. 

 Shongus was a deserted village, but the apricots and 



