CASHMERE. 



331 



better, and was not deceived, though the man followed 

 him a long distance, urging his claim. I walked the 

 whole distance to Byramgullah, and enjoyed the exercise 

 amid such lovely scenery. On the arrival of Abdoolah, 

 and learning from him the attempted fraud of the Pos- 

 sianah ' traiteur/ I ordered the kotwal to he informed of 

 it, that he might be fined and checked in such mal- 

 practices. 



23rd October. On setting off I was accosted by the 

 old delinquent of Possianah, who, it seems, had been 

 immediately on my report brought with his wife to 

 answer the charge. They were astonished and terrified 

 at the position into which they had brought themselves, 

 and were profuse in all sorts of asseverations of innocent 

 intention. They stated that my servants had been sup- 

 plied after me, and for this they demanded remuneration, 

 considering my rupee as my individual backsheesh, as 

 indeed it was. If this were true, they had right on their 

 side, and it is very probable that such were the facts. 

 But it is impossible to arrive at the truth in such a case, 

 the Hindoo servants being as great adepts at lying as 

 these people, especially where their interests are at stake. 

 I could not even rely upon Abdoolah in such a case. I 

 desired the kotwal to pardon them ; but they are sure to 

 be forced to give up the rupee. 



This disposed of, T continued my progress, and was 

 attended by a well-looking black- and- tan dog of the 

 Ladak breed, whose evident familiarity with Europeans 

 made me think him a stray dog of the Survey depart- 

 ment. He left me at the foot of the Rattan Panjal ; up 

 which steep mountain I ascended, and pausing to take a 

 mental photograph of the splendid view presented from 

 the top again pushed on, enjoying the beautiful scenery, 

 varied at each turn of the winding path. I think no- 



