CHAPTER XXIII 



OCTOBER 1 8 TO DECEMBER I SRINAGAR AND TRAAL 



House-boat — Start for stag-shooting — Traal Reserve — Pleasant woods — 

 Stags seen — Camp in northern glen — ^Blank days — Camp at top of the 

 ridge — Family of bears — Male wounded — Tracking next day — Bear 

 bagged — A good ten-pointer stag — Successful stalk — The Kajnag 

 markhor — Telegram recalling me — Leave Kashmir — Details of total 

 bag. 



For the next few days we were busy repairing damages 

 sustained during our wanderings, and arranging about a 

 house-boat for the winter months. After some trouble we 

 succeeded in getting a fairly good boat (with four rooms, 

 a bathroom, and pantry) for Rs.40 a month, and into 

 this we transferred our o-oods and chattels. As the boat, 

 of course, was unfurnished, and we had only a few camp 

 things, purchases had to be made. So leaving my wife to 

 the congenial task of putting up curtains, buying carpets, 

 hangings, etc, I started on the 31st of October for the 

 Traal Reserve, in which I had been courteously given 

 permission by the Maharajah to shoot a stag. 



This and the Wanorat nala have been reserved of 

 late years with a view to provide harbours of refuge 

 for the Barasingh, which, owing to relentless pursuit in 

 summer and winter alike, was threatened with extermina- 



