CHAPTER VI 



APRIL 13-19 GARMPANI TO BURME 



Sarsal — Tossing for choice of nalas — Map of the Great Bend of the Indus 

 — Sarsal Fort — Chess-board — Start up the Burme — The mid-day halt 

 necessitated by the habits of ibex and markhor — View from Burme 

 Range — Camp at the snow-Hne — Bedding — First stalk after markhor 

 — Bad shot — Markhor in afternoon. 



I WAS up in the dark as usual on the morning of the 

 13th of April, more from habit than necessity, and started 

 before six o'clock. The going was very bad for some 

 time, as the rocks were slippery with the night's rain, 

 and the ledges in many places very small. After a 

 while, however, the path became easier, and occasionally 

 was quite good. 



About 8.30 A.M. we came in sight of Sarsal, the first 

 village of the Haramosh district, and the cultivated land 

 was a pleasant sight, as we had seen none since leaving 

 Shongus the morning before. The usual lines of poplars 

 and apricot-trees distinguished it, that ornament so many 

 of the villages in Baltistan, and between tl em the green 

 fields and shingle-covered houses made a pretty picture, 

 contrasted with the brown rocky desolation all round, and 

 the sombre green of the old pines in the gorge above. 



