xii THE MUNSHI AND LAMBARDARS OF HARAMOSH 195 



Sudro, one of the permanent coolies, and that we were to 

 march to the same place with what was absolutely neces- 

 sary only, by way of the Burme range and the nalas. I 

 knew that, for political reasons, the use of the Gilgit road 

 was forbidden to Europeans, and I did not propose to 

 march on it, for Abdulla had explained that it was possible 

 to get to the Deosai plains without traversing it. There 

 was, however, nothing, so far as I knew, to prevent my 



The Munshi of Darsu (sitting) with Lambardars of 

 neighbouring villages (p- 196). 



sending my coolies along it. Accordingly that day, the 

 6th of June, I divided my baggage into two lots, and 

 handed over one of these to Sudro. The Baltis were 

 most unwilling to go to Astor, why, I could not quite make 

 out, and there was some difficulty in persuading them. 

 However, by the aid of the Munshi and some of the 

 headmen of the neighbouring villages, the trouble was got 

 over, and the required number of men obtained. 



The next morning the Munshi and most of the head- 



