CHAP. XXVI FURNITURE 451 



being a little complicated to put together, and required 

 a certain amount of intelligence and patience. These 

 qualities my Kashmiris certainly had not got, and the 

 putting together of the camp bed almost always required 

 my personal supervision. As a table I had one of the 

 paragon type, which I consider, in most respects, the 

 best camp table made — very stable, very roomy, extra- 

 ordinarily light, and capable of folding into wonderfully 

 limited space. But, like the Elliot bed, it required in- 

 telligence to put together, and consequently mine got 

 broken almost immediately after I started. For ser- 

 vants like Kashmiris, who are singularly stupid, whose 

 fingers are all thumbs, and who hurry through their 

 work in the most perfunctory manner, with the sole idea 

 of getting done with it anyhow in the shortest possible 

 time, articles like the bed and table I took with me are 

 not suitable. 



For tubbing most travellers use the ordinary india- 

 rubber bath, and I do not know anything better. As 

 a washhand basin I took a canvas thing made by 

 Luscombe and Co., which fitted on a tripod, jointed 

 in the middle. It was certainly very portable, but that 

 was all that could be said in its favour. It leaked 

 habitually, and was always tumbling over, it was so top 

 heavy. I should recommend an iron enamel basin, fur- 

 nished with a leather cover to be strapped on. In this 

 could be carried towel, brushes, comb, soap-box, etc., 

 so that all requisites for washing would be found 

 together. A strongly made, rather squat wooden stand 

 should accompany it. 



Something more in the way of furniture is required if 



