TO THE KARAKORUM. 207 



both as beacons and for warmth, and also to be ready for 

 cooking. It was now bitterly cold, and black dark. The 

 coolies came straggling in ; then Abdoolah and Buddoo 

 who reported that All Bucks had got a fall and a ducking, 

 but no harm done. At last all the baggage came in, at 

 8.30, and I had a stew warmed up and dined. 



I ordered every horse two seers of corn, and went after 

 dinner to see if it had been given. The grain had been 

 issued, but most of the rascally drivers had gone off to 

 the Bhoot huts, and left their disconsolate horses famish- 

 ing. I kicked up a great row, and Abdoolah and others 

 rushed about frantically, lugging, hauling, and abusing, 

 until I saw each 'quad' munching his feed. Poor things ! 

 they have hard times of it. These Bhooties have a most 

 absurd idea which Abdool revealed, he firmly believing 

 in it, that in this country the horses should never be 

 allowed grass until sunset, or they swell up and die. He 

 would have starved my horse on this principle, but that 

 I overruled his stupid attempt; and the poor baggage 

 cattle would have got nothing till morning, after their 

 great fatigues and long fast another idea had I not 

 interfered. 



llth August. At the first inkling of dawn I halloo'd 

 loudy for Buddoo : they were all fast asleep, and, after 

 I was ready to start, Abdoolah and others were still 

 ensconced in their blankets. It was a cold raw morning, 

 which made me anxious to be moving. The horses were 

 all astray, except mine, no one having had the sense to 

 send for them. Mooktoo came to me with a whine, 

 saying that his horse had not eaten half his corn : I took 

 the opportunity of rebuking him for his selfish want of 

 consideration to the poor beast yesterday, attributing its 

 being amiss thereto. 



I left the shikarries to await their horses, and went on 



