110 SOROO PASS 



from the sun, now become excessively hot after ten o'clock. 

 A great but gradual change has taken place as the season 

 has advanced. The mornings and evenings are now cool, 

 not cold, and the days very hot, the sun so powerful as to 

 render my small shuldary tent quite an oven. I try to 

 diminish the temperature by putting my double blanket 

 on the top ; but still I suffer much, and find a tree, where 

 there is one at hand, better protection by far. 



My followers were very long in appearing, and I felt 

 some anxiety for my servants' safety in so hazardous a 

 path, but was .gratified by the simultaneous presence of 

 all three, as I awoke from a troubled doze. The coolies 

 also arrived without accident of any sort. 



I went in the afternoon up river to reconnoitre, and 

 had the pleasure of seeing some half-dozen ibex, vene- 

 rable fellows, with long horns and beards, but 011 the 

 opposite side of the river, and in a place the approach to 

 which made me shudder to look at. But the attempt 

 must be made to-morrow. 



One coolie arrived from Sirinuggur, bringing lead ; the 

 other, the duly deputed one, remaining behind to see the 

 Baboo, and deliver his credentials, that individual being 

 absent at some devotional gathering of the pundits at 

 some sacred shrine, most likely devising roguery there- 

 fore, no letters, papers, or bullet mould. Ibex had been 

 seen from camp. 



' 23rd June. Off in pursuit of the ibex seen yesterday. 

 We descended to the river which we crossed on the snow, 

 and up the opposite side, ibex seen above us. 



We lay down to reconnoitre. Two ibex, male and 

 female, were coming in our direction from the heights in 

 the rear. Their intention becoming apparent to continue 

 in our direction, we climbed up to intercept them, and a 

 rough scramble it was. After raising our hopes to the 



