222 SPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF KASHMIR chap. 



where the Dras river takes its rise, but elsewhere green 

 grass and wild flowers were to be seen. 



About a mile or two beyond Machahoi the road 

 descends into a wide plain, which, when I arrived, was 

 dotted all over with grazing yaks, ponies, and bullocks, 

 while a lot of merchandise in bales lay heaped up in 

 various places. In the shelter formed by the heaps of 

 bales groups of men were sitting, some smoking, some 

 eating. It was then about lo a.m., and I was a good 

 deal surprised to see the traffic on the road suspended, as 

 by general consent, at so early an hour. 



On making inquiries, I found that a bridge over a 

 snow stream which crossed the road had been broken 

 two evenings before by a sudden rise of the water. On 

 going to the spot, I saw some six or seven men piling up 

 stones to make a foundation for the trestles. They had 

 been sent from Dras that morning, I was told, and they 

 expected, they said, to finish their job by evening, or next 

 day. Hearing that there was a way round over a snow 

 bridge, I resolved to investigate it, but first stopped to 

 get my breakfast. 



About 11.30 A.M. I went along the path I had been 

 told of, but found that it was impracticable for laden 

 ponies. So I returned, resolved to make the lazy 

 travellers I had seen sitting amongst their bales get up 

 and lend a hand at mending the bridge, a bit of work 

 which was for the benefit of all. Abdulla had arrived 

 with the baggage ponies while I was examining the 

 road to the snow bridge, so sending him off to collect 

 men at one place, I went to do the same at another. 

 I left one man at each encampment, but turned every 



