330 CASHMERE. 



untimely hour, yet the baggage not off as early as 

 intended. The coolies took such a time to fit their loads 

 to their fancies that I passed them all within a mile of 

 camp, and trudged steadily on for the Pir a heavy, 

 steady pull of three miles or so. Thence I enjoyed the 

 superh view the whole valley, through which my home- 

 ward route lies, being unrolled in all its windings before 

 me. And beautiful it looked, now just lit up by the 

 risen sun. A few minutes to take an impression, and 

 down I sped, the path bad enough in itself made 

 more difficult than usual by the number of tattoos and 

 bullocks which appear at this season to throng the 

 narrow paths. It took me about an hour to reach the 

 bottom. I was surprised to find the huge snowdrift, 

 which I thought to be inconsumable some always re- 

 maining to be renewed each winter entirely dissolved ; 

 the mass of earth and stones it had collected alone 

 remaining to mark its position. I scrambled from the 

 bed of the torrent up that horrid bit of road immediately 

 above it, and there was completely checked by a continu- 

 ous string of some two hundred laden bullocks. As it 

 was very possible to be sent rolling down the precipitous 

 bank by a rude shock from their hard mass of salt, I 

 pulled up for half an hour, and then on to Possianah, 

 where I was welcomed by the man and woman who 

 attend to the wants of wayfarers. Though I carried my 

 usual hunter's breakfast, I gratified the old importunate 

 couple by directing some chupatties and eggs to be pre- 

 pared, and did not fail to do justice to them. I gave the 

 old fellow a pukka rupee, for which liberal donation the 

 pair pretended to offer up prayers on my behalf. Alas ! 

 the hypocrites ! When Abdoolah arrived, they claimed 

 payment of him for my refreshment, assuring him that 

 such was my order. But Abdoolah knew my ways 



