LADAK. 155 



had directed my tent to be shifted a few feet, by which 

 move it was in shade all day, and consequently I felt the 

 heat less. Indeed, I did not experience any discomfort 

 from it, as a strong breeze from northward was blowing, 

 rustling among the leaves overhead, and sweeping with 

 pleasant music over the green crops bending and waving 

 to its pressure, which would have imparted an idea, if 

 not a reality, of coolness to one, had it been actually 

 hotter. The shikarries returned, reporting the ground to 

 be entirely devoid of even the tracks of game. They had 

 extended their search over an extensive range, and had 

 interrogated some native shikarries shooting partridges, 

 but the result ever the same nothing. We agreed, 

 therefore, to shift camp to-morrow some eight miles 

 further towards Leh, and there try our luck. This 

 country, however, is so barren and desolate that I despair 

 of sport here. 



After dinner the shikarries came for a chat. I was 

 interested in their account of the brothers Schlagentweit 

 who were some time in Cashmere, prosecuting their 

 explorations in natural science. Subhan had been in 

 their employ for some months, collecting specimens for 

 them ; and his account thereof, and his amazement at 

 such, to him, worthless rubbish being thus treasured and 

 sent to Europe, was very droll. It escaped in the course 

 of his narrative, that these talented naturalists were, from 

 their mysterious experiments, more than suspected of con- 

 nection with the Evil One, and of practising sorceries, &c. 



Subhan, trying to put on an air of unconcern and 

 incredulity, evident uncertainty and suspicion evincing 

 themselves in his tone and manner, described how these 

 'savans' mysteriously and with cautious secrecy dug holes 

 in a garden at night, covering them over, and leaving a 

 candle or lamp burning near, he and others being ordered 



