TO THE SHAYAK. 179 



galled tattoos, intending to send them to Leh to pick up 

 and gain condition by my return, and take on my own 

 with me. The unconscionable old chap, on my pointing 

 out two, asked two hundred rupees for one, and three 

 hundred for the other. I said, a deal was out of the 

 question. After a time I offered him one hundred rupees 

 for the two, through the shikarries. No ; he wouldn't 

 think of it. Well, his team went on, he having to remain 

 till my servants came, to be paid for the nambas. Thinking 

 how pleasant it would be to have my own hard-conditioned 

 nags with me perchance, to pursue thereon some wounded 

 yaks I called Subhan, and directed him to offer one hun- 

 dred and fifty rupees for the two ; but the obstinate old 

 man would not accept the offer. This was an outside 

 price for the animals, if in condition for work ; so I made 

 no further attempt to persuade the reluctant proprietor to 

 part with his quads. He had long to wait for his rupees: 

 but on the arrival of my servants, having paid him, I 

 offered him a rupee, ' backsheesh/ he having given me 

 some dried fruit. At this he demurred, and actually 

 needed remonstrance to make him accept. Then, with 

 many polite salaams, he went on his way. 



My khansamah and the shikarries had blundered sadly 

 about arrangements ; for, although they knew that there 

 was no village, no supplies or wood here, they had not 

 taken care to ascertain that due provision had been made 

 for our necessities, trusting all to the jemadar without 

 enquiring at starting. Messengers had been despatched, 

 but night approached without their returning ; and 

 Abdoolah was warming me some food by the scanty fire 

 some horse-dung, chips, and bits of matting afforded, 

 when a portion of wood arrived, and in the course of an 

 hour the other things. The night was very cold, a violent 

 hailstorm having burst upon us in the afternoon. 



N 2 



