LABAK. 139 



This slight incident, somehow or other, had a pleasing 

 influence on me, and sent me hack cheerful to camp. 



The sky became overcast, and in the afternoon there 

 was a violent wind, and at last rain, so I kept my 

 covering. 



9th July. A very cloudy morning saw me under- 

 weigh at 5 A.M. We crossed the river by a good wooden 

 bridge on rough stone piers, situated just below my tent. 

 Then, ascending the other side, and mounting a stiffish 

 hill, we found ourselves on a table land open undulating 

 downs closed in, of course, by mountains. These downs 

 had but a tinge of green, as from the sandy soil and 

 want of water there was but a very light, sparse herbage 

 on them. The air was delicious, cool, and fresh, the 

 rain of yesterday having purified the atmosphere, and 

 brought out all the latent perfume of the plants around. 



I tramped gaily on, chatting with Subhan, the other 

 shikarries keeping in the rear on tattoos. I had given 

 no permission or authority for engaging these ponies, 

 and was rather puzzled to know how they were provided. 

 However, I said nothing, intending to ascertain in the 

 evening, as I had no notion of paying for ponies for these 

 lazy scamps. Knowing the parties, I suspected some 

 underhand tricks. 



The path for some miles led up a stream bordered by 

 fields interspersed with roses, a few houses here and 

 there ; then, leaving the village of Pashgyam, it entered 

 upon a barren ravine, running along the hill-side ; and so 

 on, until we came upon more cultivation and a pretty 

 village, where in a charming spot under some willows, 

 by a clear brawling brook, I stopped for breakfast, having 

 been on the march four hours. 



My food was not altogether satisfactory ; half my tea 

 had oozed out of the bottle; one egg was all yellow, 



