220 



CHAPTER XIV. 



FASCINATIONS AND CHARMS OP A HUNTER'S LIFE SUMMER IN THE 

 PLAINS OF INDIA THE PIR PUNCH AL RANGE A NATIVE GENTLEMAN 

 KAZIMA TWO REAL SHIKAREES THE MARKHOR A MARKHOR IN 

 DURBAR HOW HATHA CLEVERLY CIRCUMVENTED A " HIND " THE 

 LUCK THAT FOLLOWS THE FIRST SHOT GLORIOUS PANORAMA OF 

 MOUNTAIN SCENERY A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND AN AWKWARD PRE- 

 DICAMENT HATHA'S SURGERY NATIVE HOSPITALITY A " DRIVE " 



UNDER DIFFICULTIES THE BONYAR VALLEY AN INCIDENT WHICH 

 MIGHT HAVE PROVED DISASTROUS DANGEROUS SLOPES. 



DESPITE its hardships and vicissitudes, the greater experience 

 one has of a wild mountain life, the more does the passion 

 for it increase. The craving for its roving freedom, in the 

 temperament of some people, becomes such as at length to 

 amount almost to a disease as is known to be the case with 

 Swiss mountaineers when deprived of it. There is certainly 

 nothing that tends more to invigorate both mind and body 

 than the opportunities for studying the beautiful works of 

 nature, the immunity from worldly worries, and the healthy 

 exercise afforded by wild mountain sport. I have also ob- 

 served that there is a kind of affinity between real sportsmen 

 which attracts them towards each other, for among no other 

 class of men does more good-fellowship exist. And I can 

 affirm, from my own experience, that many a true and lasting 

 friendship has commenced on a shikar trip. 



Towards the middle of a very hot summer in the Punjab, I 

 started for the Himalayas on two months' leave. From con- 



