l.ADAK. 149 



who represented that country as a most sterile, dusty, and 

 difficult region to traverse, everything even to grass 

 having to be carried, and the wild yak, the only object 

 worth the trouble and risk, even if seen, which was ex- 

 ceedingly doubtful, a most difficult creature to approach. 



On these and other similar representations, I abandoned 

 the idea, limiting my travels eastward to Leh and its 

 environs, where I propose remaining a few days, giving 

 Suleiman an opportunity of offering his Scriptures, &c. ; 

 thence to make my way to Iskardo, returning to Cashmere 

 through the Tilyl valley, by which time the bara sing will 

 be in season. 



12th July. I took a saunter along under the lamas' 

 dwellings, then down into the barley fields very pleasant 

 this leisurely stroll after my three days' hard, broiling 

 work. The two villagers, sent out at dawn to scout, re- 

 turned with the unsatisfactory information that they had 

 searched far and wide, but seen nothing. However, we 

 did not place much dependence on them. 



In the evening, taking my glass, I went off myself in 

 the direction in which it was stated the game would be 

 found, if anywhere. But not a vestige of shikar could I 

 discover. I saw Subhan go by on the same errand, and 

 returned to dinner. On coming back he reported a 

 barren country without a trace of game. 



I had great doubt about trying to-morrow, but after 

 some consultation determined to convince myself on the 

 question of game or no game; and, if none should be 

 found, to shift camp on Saturday across the Indus to 

 Kalsee, reported by the shikarries to be a nice village, 

 with many trees, and undoubted shikar in the neighbour- 

 hood; so that will be a pleasanter locale in which to 

 await my things, and it is but eight or nine miles off. 



The owner of the wounded cow came to report on the 



