166 



LEH. 



had a good opportunity of ascertaining the use of this 

 singular instrument ; and the lama without more ado sat 

 down by the way, and commenced revolving the box, at 

 the same time rolling his eyes about, and mumbling 

 uncouth sounds, stated to be sentences of prayer and 

 adoration, the number of which were calculated by the 

 revolutions of the instrument, indicated by the swinging 

 tassel. 



21st July. I arose vigorous and fresh, the night having 

 been cool and pleasant, and just loitered about this en- 

 closure in which I find a tent, horse, and dogs, and 

 attendants of Major Try on, 7th R.F., who, they tell me, 

 has been in these parts some twenty days, and is now 

 across the Indus shooting, having been away eight days. 



About eleven o'clock a saheb rode into the enclosure 

 with many attendants. He turned out to be a Mr. 

 Johnstone, of the Survey, at work in this vicinity. I 

 asked him up to my tent, where we had a long chat ; to 

 me a great treat, as I have not seen an European since I 

 left Sirinuggur, now nearly ten weeks. I asked my new 

 acquaintance to share my humble fare at 6 P.M. 



I was visited by a nephew of my friend Ahmet Shah 

 of Islamabad, who is in a similar position here to his 

 uncle at that place, being kardar of a large pergunnah, 

 adding to this office the important duties of government 

 moonshi. This rencontre is fortunate as he can give me 

 reliable information of the Karakorum road and country, 

 and also aid me in my purchases and arrangements. As 

 yet the caravan of merchants from Yarkand has not 

 arrived ; but they are within five or six stages of Leh. 

 On their arrival he will make searching enquiries as to 

 the chance of success in those regions. 



The shikarries, it strikes me, are not so keen now the 

 time approaches to carry out our project, as they were 



