194 SPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF KASHMIR chap. 



suggested going into the nalas between that and Astor, 

 and then, if I must go to Leh, on to the Deosai plains, 

 and so down to Kargil. He was, however, very much 

 opposed to going to Ladak at all, and wanted me in- 

 stead, when done with the Astor nalas, to go after black 

 bears in the Lolab. But I stuck to my point, which 

 was markhor and red bear first, and then whatever I could 

 get on the Leh side. 



Not unnaturally, he and the other Kashmiris wanted to 

 get t-o their homes, which were nearly all in the neighbour- 

 hood of Bandipur, and the prospect of turning aside to 

 start for Ladak was not by any means congenial. In- 

 deed, I have never been quite able to make up my mind 

 as to whether he did not purposely propose the route we 

 went, mainly that he might get to Bandipur. He must 

 have known that the chances of markhor anywhere were 

 then but small, and that most of the nalas beyond the 

 Burme were pretty sure to be occupied, or to have been 

 already shot that season. He probably knew that we 

 could not get on to the Deosai plains so early from the 

 Astor direction. He should, therefore, have recom- 

 mended returning by Skardo, which would have been 

 the direct route to Leh. But when I suggested this as 

 the quickest way, he admitted the fact, but said we should 

 get no shooting, whereas we were certain of markhor 

 and red bear by the Astor route. This decided me, as I 

 did not want to leave Baltistan without a couple more 

 markhor and red bears. 



It was therefore arranged that the bulk of the baggage 

 (the Cabul tent, heads, skins, and stores) was to be sent 

 round via Bunji to Astor with twelve Baltis in charge of 



