CHAPTER II. 



TO SIRINUGGTJR. 



I HAD hoped to have received intelligence of the Com- 

 mander-in- Chief's sanction of my application for leave 

 ere the 15th. I only heard from the Assistant Adjutant 

 General at Lahore that it had been forwarded : so, being 

 in command at Amritsir, I gave myself leave in antici- 

 pation, and, having some days previously arranged my 

 'palki dak/ I entered it about 4.30 P.M. on Monday 

 the 16th, and making up my mind for a grilling, it being 

 extremely hot, off I started amid the farewell salaams 

 of my deserted retainers. The heat was very great, but 

 the prospect before me of, ere many days, plunging into 

 the eternal snows rendered endurance easy. 



I reached the Sealkote bungalow about twelve next day : 

 bathed, breakfasted, made another meal at 4 P.M., 

 after which I again jogged on along the dusty road, keep- 

 ing down my disgust and refreshing my weary spirits, by 

 conjuring up visions of snowy regions, and glorious sport 

 as before. And thus I arrived at Goojerat, after crossing 

 the Chenab at 5 A.M. on the morning of the 18th. 



