XXIV SHIKARIS IN LA DAK 435 



be a cheaper and better arrangement than engaging his 

 relative or friend to assist him. 



It will be observed that the above remarks concern- 

 ing the shikari are intended for men who are not going 

 to shoot in Ladak. Those who are, should not, I think, 

 engage a Kashmiri shikari at all. Kashmiris do not 

 seem to pull well with Ladakis, and strongly dislike the 

 country of the Buddhists. To a Kashmiri, rice is the 

 staff of life, and rice is ruinously dear in Leh. There 

 are not, it is true, many shikaris in Ladak, but still 

 there are a few, and it would generally be better, I think, 

 to trust to one of them than to a man taken up from the 

 valley. Even if a Ladak shikari is not procurable, the 

 sportsman could generally secure the services of a local 

 man, who would accompany him on his wanderings, 

 arrange for transport, and help in obtaining from the 

 nomads information about game. This would be all he 

 would absolutely require, and if he had a good head for 

 stalking, was a fair shot, and was lucky in sighting game, 

 he should do well. 



The servants required on a shooting expedition are 

 luckily few, and are generally procurable in the country 

 itself. Practically the only two are the shikari and 

 the cook. The former has been already referred to, 

 and must be engaged in Kashmir. The latter can be 

 got easily enough in Kashmir, but he is usually not much 

 of a cook, and is particularly dirty in his habits. Con- 

 sequently, if any sportsman, about to visit the country, is 

 the fortunate possessor of a good cook with a strong 

 physique, he should certainly bring him. L^ not, a 

 Kashmiri must be engaged. This man will probably be 



