l.KIl AND LA DAK. 287 



left on the hill died yesterday, making five in all out of 

 the seventeen taken from Panamik, which gives a fair 

 idea of the nature of the journey. The hire of each 

 horse for the forty days, after due deductions, is eight 

 rupees, one anna. I was very glad to have the matter 

 settled, and attacked my stew with additional zest. Some 

 turnips and pumpkins obtained yesterday were a great 

 treat after a month's forced abstinence from all vegetables. 

 No fruit to be got here. I push on to-morrow beyond 

 the corresponding stage when coming, and, as the river 

 is now low, shall probably avoid Diskit altogether. 



18th September. A more than usually tiresome march, 

 the glare from the surrounding bare sandy ground exces- 

 sively trying to the eyes. The moonshi overtook and 

 accompanied me, and on arrival at Lanjoong procured 

 me some melons and apples which, though indifferent of 

 their kind, were most acceptable. Here I discharged 

 Tar-gness who appeared delighted with his rate of wages, 

 doing obeisance in a most servile manner. The kardar 

 arrived from Diskit, and I tipped him five rupees, much 

 to his satisfaction. 



19th September. A long and most wearisome march, 

 repeating all the disagreeables of yesterday in a magni- 

 fied degree, the road lying through an interminable tract 

 of shingle and deep sand by the river side. I shot a hare 

 at the village where we stopped to breakfast, and dis- 

 turbed a young brood of chakore there. The hen bird 

 exposing herself to certain destruction to draw off atten- 

 tion from her nestlings, I forbore to injure her, respecting 

 her maternal solicitude and magnanimous self-devotion. 

 We finally brought up at a small village on the right 

 bank, having passed by Diskit and Kalsar, and thus 

 gaining a position almost opposite the ravine leading down 

 from Karbong. The sheep arrived from Diskit looking well, 



