& PREPARATIONS AND EQUIPMENTS. 



the number and office of my attendants the extent of 

 my stud, and the amount and nature of my sporting 

 equipments ; especially this latter, as the chase, or, as it 

 is called in India, ' shikar/ is with me a sort of mania, 

 and all that appertains thereto is to me of very great 

 importance. Therefore, as a guide for myself, or to advise 

 others on some subsequent and similar occasion, I must 

 minutely specify my shooting apparatus and fishing 

 appointments, and, in the course of my diary, especially 

 take note of efficiences and deficiences in this respect, as 

 occasion may demand. 



To commence with the most important part of my 

 travelling establishment, the servants, there was, First 

 in consideration, the khansamah, who unites the duties of 

 caterer, cook, and director general of the ways and means. 

 Secondly, the sirdar or bearer, the individual who, in 

 this land of the minutest division of labour, looks after 

 the clothes, bedding, &c., and assists in dressing and 

 washing. He was a new hand, hired for the occasion, 

 as my regular sirdar had to remain behind in charge of 

 my property. Thirdly, the bheestie, who, in addition to 

 his ordinary duties of fetching water, undertook to assist 

 in cooking, washing up dishes, &c., for the consideration 

 of three rupees additional wages, which I thought prefer- 

 able to hiring a mussulchee, as the fewer attendants one 

 has on the road to Ladak the better, considering that for 

 some marches all provisions and food have to be carried 

 for the whole party. Fourthly, the classee, in whose 

 charge were the tents and their belongings, &c. his duty 

 to accompany and pitch them. Fifthly and sixthly, two 

 syces, grooms, in whose charge were my two ponies : one 

 of which was a stout animal from Yarkand, a famous 

 animal for mountain travelling : the other a good-looking, 

 good sort of pony from Cabul, which I bought at hazard, 



