N THE WURDWAN. 75 



grass sandals here, in the slippery soft snow, worse than 

 ordinary boots, as they gave no hold such as the raised 

 heel does. 



The shikarries, of course, though they slipped about, 

 and fell too, found no real difficulty in getting on. I 

 have addressed myself to discovering what can be the 

 cause of such a marked difference, giving them such 

 very superior power of adherence to a smooth, slippery, 

 surface. The reason of this difference is, I believe, in 

 the formation and use of the toes. The feet are re- 

 markably short, and spread out at the toes like half a fan. 

 These mountaineers have never cramped their feet by the 

 use of such distorting leathern bondage, as we torture 

 ourselves with ; so that the toes, instead of being strained 

 to a point, are spread out, and every one of them becomes 

 practically a finger, affording clutch and support, which 

 enables the possessors to move with confidence on any 

 inclined surface, however smooth and steep, when, if they 

 slip with one foot, they can easily recover themselves 

 with the other : while we, having rendered our toes 

 useless but as a lever ' en masse/ depend upon the ball 

 of the foot for our hold, which gives, indeed, ample 

 support on smooth level ground, but is quite inadequate 

 for safe progress amid the dangerous paths that ibex 

 hunting leads to. The latter part of our way lay over 

 a snow drift inclining rapidly, down which we sped at a 

 smart pace, digging in our heels, occasionally getting too 

 much way on, and having to make considerable exertions 

 to steer clear of danger. The exercise was exhilarating. 

 Arrived in the village, I was met by Abdoolah, khansa- 

 mah who, much excited, declared that thirteen animals, 

 which he thought to be 'kustoora/ had just passed along 

 the path on the other side the river, and were now in 

 sight. We were much puzzled at this confident state- 



