TO THE KARAKOKUM. 199 



pared with one of my pocket knives, and the shoe affixed 

 in a workman- like manner, the nails right well driven 

 and firmly clenched. Abdool's ingenuity in steadying the 

 hind leg was admirable. He took the long tail of the 

 nag, and wound two turns round the pastern, so getting 

 a good purchase : he then held the leg out at full stretch, 

 and another help placed his shoulders against the other 

 ham to control any attempt at violence, and so the 

 astonished animal was newly provided all round. 



I ordered dinner at five punctually to enable me to 

 stroll out and look for a hare in the neighbouring thickets 

 afterwards. At dinner Abdoolah informed me that the 

 rascal of a kardar was intending all sorts of frauds and 

 tricks in respect of the price of the rations and hire of 

 horses, having told him that he had established a tariff 

 differing much from that of Leh, and most exorbitant. 

 As the principal town gives the standard, I told Abdoolah 

 that I would take measures to bring the kardar to his 

 senses, and directed the horses for selection and the 

 oificials to be in attendance to-morrow at my breakfast 

 hour. I thought over my plans, and prepared my speeches, 

 enriching my vocabulary from my Hindostani Hand-book. 

 I went out with Subhan, and killed one hare, and wounded 

 another, the only two we saw. On my return Mooktoo 

 and Subhan attended, and informed me that the moonshi 

 had confided to them, that the kardar had collected a 

 wretched batch of incapable horses for me, and that 

 there were some good serviceable animals to be had, if I 

 insisted upon it. He could not speak out himself, he 

 said, but urged them to advise me to assume a high 

 hand, as these people will do nothing unless driven. 



8th August. Taking my gun, Subhan, and Sara, I 

 went to look at some hot springs of which Abdoolah had 

 told me, he having visited them yesterday. They were 



