208 TO THE KARAKORUM. 



with Abdool. It was bitter cold, and I walked long ere 

 the circulation was in full play, and longed for the sun's 

 now genial beams. The path was a great improvement 

 on yesterday's, and there was a good deal of grass scat- 

 tered about. The route lay due east. Ascending a stiff 

 rocky hill, an opening in the mountain peaks appeared, 

 which I found to be the pass of Sassar. I had decided 

 last night to halt at the bottom of the pass, by the advice 

 of Abdool, and there to pass Sunday, enabling the poor 

 cattle to rest and pick up a bellyfull of grass which 

 Abdool stated to be plentiful there ; but if it turned out 

 that there was no grass, we should cross the pass on 

 Sunday morning to the next halt, where grass was abun- 

 dant, and wood also. We are carrying wood with us at 

 present. 



The valley, as we approached the pass, was blocked up 

 by masses of stones, in the midst of which were occa- 

 sional pools of water. Clambering over these rough 

 heaps, we came in sight of the grand obstruction to our 

 progress, in an enormous glacier which completely choked 

 up the valley. Masses of snow lay in all directions, and 

 several pools of clear water; around which, and else- 

 where, I was glad to see a sufficiency of grass for the 

 horses. I selected a spot for the camp, and then the 

 shikarries came up, and I found that Phuttoo and 

 Mooktoo had changed their horses, having knocked 

 theirs up yesterday. I gave them a bit of my mind, and 

 forbade such tricks in future. The wind was very cold, 

 blowing off the masses of snow, but the sun excessively 

 hot a most unpleasant contrast. This being a short 

 march of about eight miles, all the baggage came up in 

 good time. Abdool had tied up the shikarries' tats, 

 and remonstrated at my orders to loose them : the silly 

 fellow would have kept all the animals fasting during 



