224 SPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF KASHMIR chap. 



Kargil, and I was occupied some time in dealing with 

 them. After breakfast we went on, I riding this time, 

 as the day was very hot. We found ourselves about 6 

 P.M. at Darchik (or Dharkat), a small village about 6 

 miles short of Mulbekh, which is the regular halting- 

 place, and it was then too late, I thought, to go on, so we 

 halted. We must have covered over 24 miles, but that 

 is the distance shown on the map. The only place I 

 could find for my tent was a small piece of stony waste 

 surrounded by barley fields, with an irrigation channel 

 close by. The men found shelter in the courtyard of 

 one of the houses of the village. 



Next morning (the 4th) we were up by moonlight as 

 usual, and off a little after dawn. We reached Kharbu, 

 where ponies were to be changed, about 11 a.m., so I 

 stopped and had breakfast under a tree. The headman 

 vowed he had only three ponies ; I wanted five for 

 baggage and two for riding. After some insistence the 

 full number were produced, and the loads changed. 

 That evening we got as far as Hiniscoot, having done 

 about 26 miles, and camped for the night. 



I was sick of this wearisome road, and tired of the 

 monotony of marching slowly with the baggage animals, 

 so determined to make a push for it. Accordingly, on the 

 morning of the 5th Abdulla and I started by 3.30 a.m. 

 The shikari rode one pony, which carried my bedding and 

 some clothes ; I rode another, with my tiffin basket and 

 some other necessaries tied up in my Kashmir blanket 

 and slung across the saddle. The seat was thereby 

 rendered very uncomfortable, but it could not be helped. 



It was bright moonlight and we could see very well. 



