XXVI CHAPLIS 463 



near with a pony I never could quite make out, but that 

 he did manage it somehow was evident from the bag 

 of Ovis auimon, burhel, antelope, and gazelle which he 

 brought back. 



Chaplis, the leather sandals of Kashmir, are cooler 

 and lighter than shooting boots, and are often a pleasant 

 change. As noted above, I found it a good plan, when 

 marching, to wear boots until breakfast, and then change 

 into chaplis for the afternoon. They are not good things 

 to use in wet, or when on gravel, sand, or loose stones. In 

 wet the foot slides about too much, and on gravel small 

 stones get in between the foot and the sole. Chamois 

 leather socks can be had, but they are of little use, as they 

 wear through very fast. It is best to get all of cow-hide. 



The long puttoo boots are a great comfort to change 

 into after a day's work in cold weather, as they keep the 

 feet and legs very warm. 



The overcoat is largely a matter of taste. In Baltis- 

 tan I never wore it at all, as when it got dusk I always 

 went to bed. In Ladak it was undoubtedly useful after 

 dinner on cold nights, and in Srinagar when we got back 

 in October. If I were going again alone I should not 

 take one ; otherwise I think I should. 



The kind of leather belt I found most useful was 

 made in three pieces of double leather, if inches wide, 

 connected by two brass rings, each 2 inches in diameter. 

 The rings were 16 inches apart, a distance which brought 

 them comfortably to the sides of the hips. The advantage 

 of rings is that they allow of freer play of the body than if 

 the belt is one continuous strip of leather. An ordinary 

 buckle and tongue of brass formed the fastening in front. 



