TO THE KARAKORUM. 209 



the day. No wonder so many perish under such cruel priva- 

 tions. Subhan is unwell, complaining of headache the 

 effects of the sun and wind, noidoubt. I had the foot of my 

 shuldary closed in with turf-clods to exclude the biting blast, 

 and prepared plenty of clothes to weather out the night. 



12th August. Sunday. I had a very uneasy night of 

 it, suffering from indigestion, although I dined at five 

 hare stew too rich, perhaps but the principal disturbing 

 cause was the difficulty of respiration, owing to the 

 extreme rarification of the air at this great height, many 

 thousands of feet. I waited in painful disquiet till the 

 sun rose ; then turned out, the thermometer in my tent 

 33'. From the past night's experience I was doubtful of 

 my health, but after a wash and a cup of tea found 

 myself all right. Abdoolah told me they had all suffered 

 from shortness of breath as I had done ; so, quite reas- 

 sured, I went forth to stroll. 



We are in a basin formed by rugged mountains whose 

 many gorges are filled with immense masses of snow, in 

 ridge and furrow, having the appearance of mighty rivers 

 suddenly congealed in all the irregularity of their down- 

 ward rush. In this basin are many stony hillocks ; at 

 their bases clear pools. I wished to. see how the poor 

 horses fared, and was much pleased to see them ap- 

 parently enjoying their repose and pasturage, many lying 

 down, their stomachs proving by their rotundity that 

 they had made good use of their time. I sat down and 

 watched them, and was forcibly struck by the wisdom 

 and mercy of the Sabbath ordinance. Poor wearied 

 beasts ! your aching limbs and galled smarting backs 

 would now be causing you renewed tortures, but for that 

 merciful decree of the Divine "Will. I enjoyed a grate- 

 ful, peaceful sensation at my heart in this recognition of 

 the Almighty Creator's loving-kindness. 



