TO THE KARAKORUM. 197 



stretch of cultivation, the valley generally as barren as 

 ever, and bivouacked in an orchard, my tent being pitched 

 under a fine spreading peach tree, the shade of which 

 was very enjoyable. 



7th August. We quitted this pleasant bivouac before 

 5 A.M., and travelled over a country in this narrow valley 

 similar to that crossed yesterday, a barren stony hollow, 

 with a hamlet occasionally on either side, where man's 

 ingenuity and industry, invading this domain of rock, 

 has won a hard fought footing. My shikarries and 

 servants are now all on tattoos, and will be thus assisted 

 all the way to the yak country. "We saw two or three hares 

 in the thorn thickets now met with. This rugged valley 

 runs, I think, almost N.W. Some lofty snow-capped 

 mountains close in the upward view. 



We arrived at Panamik at half-past eight, the distance 

 not more than ten miles. It is a small village as to 

 residences, but with a large extent of rich cultivation, 

 and a good number of fine fruit trees, and also large 

 willows. I took up my quarters under some peach trees, 

 the fruit abundant ; not as we see it in our gardens in 

 England, a solitary specimen here and there on a wall, 

 but depending in bunches numbering some dozens together 

 small certainly, and nothing to be compared in flavour. 

 They are yet generally unripe. The kardar and moonshi 

 attended to report that all was prepared : I was, therefore, 

 the more vexed and disappointed, when in the middle of 

 the day Abdoolah told me that, owing to a mistake in 

 the maund the kardar having willfully, as I believe, 

 mistaken the amount which was ordered to be in ' cucha ' 

 maunds there would not be half enough flour provided 

 for rations, and that, as it had to be ground, another day's 

 delay was unavoidable. There was no help for it, so I 

 submitted to stern necessity as tranquilly as possible. 



