462 SPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF KASHMIR chap. 



skin. In a strong cold wind nothing else will keep the 

 hands warm. 



The socks for grass shoes (both inner and outer) 

 wear out very fast, and a liberal supply should be taken. 

 They are required everywhere but in Ladak. The inner 

 ones, made of puttoo thread, are particularly short-lived, 

 so knitted ones made of good wool should, if possible, be 

 bought. My wife got me a couple of pairs of these from 

 a man who lived in Srinagar close to the first bridge 

 over the Jhelum. Outer socks, unquilted, are obtainable, 

 but they are not nearly so comfortable or as lasting as 

 those I have mentioned. 



The shooting boots should fit well and be easy, and 

 should be furnished with nails. I like ice-screws best, 

 and always used them, as, until much worn, they give a 

 better grip on rock than any other kind. The boots will 

 only be worn when marching, and two pairs, with chaplis 

 to change into, should be ample for a three months' trip 

 after ibex or markhor. In Ladak they would be used 

 always, and more might be necessary, so that there, 

 perhaps, the usual estimate of a pair a month would not 

 be too much. Nevertheless, it should be remembered 

 that the sportsman can get about almost everywhere on 

 a pony when in Ladak ; indeed can, in some cases, 

 almost do his stalks on a pony, so that the wear and tear 

 of shoe-leather need not necessarily be great. One 

 gentleman I knew, though quite lame and unable to move 

 without having his knee tightly bandaged, contrived to 

 do a large amount of shooting in Ladak by free use of 

 ponies. He never walked at all till within two or three 

 hundred yards of his game. How he contrived to get so 



