52 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



some 300 yards square, jutting out from the steep 

 mountain-slope. It is the half way -house, as the 

 name signifies, on the ascent of the Pier-e-zun from 

 this side. There were no provisions obtainable at 

 the serai ; but late in the evening some forage for the 

 horses was brought from the villages Kulloonee and 

 Abdoree, which they told us were situated in the 

 valley below. Our evening repast was of the very 

 lightest description possible, and sleep that night was 

 out of the question. Nothing availed against the 

 fury of the mosquitoes and sand-flies ; but what with 

 smoking and drinking tea, we passed the hours till 

 the moon shed her welcome light over the wilderness 

 of mountains around us. One o'clock in the morning 

 of the 28th saw us again in the saddle, and continuing 

 the descent of the Pier-e-zun. I was very sleepy ; 

 but my horse stumbled and tripped in such an aggra- 

 vating way down the rough road we were travelling, 

 that I could not but keep awake. A continued de- 

 scent for about four miles, and we were in the valley 

 of Dusht-Beer. Here we rode under trees of the 

 dwarf oak, ash, and blackthorn. There was no under- 

 growth, but springy soft turf came close up to the 

 edge of the road. The whole valley was bathed in 

 the silvery light of the moon ; and the quiet beauty 

 of the scene was a pleasant change from the rugged 

 slopes of the Pier-e-zun. I was too tired to keep long 

 awake. Our horses moved noiselessly along over the 

 sandy road ; and soon the moonlit glades, the stal- 



