48 IBEX SHOOTING 



arching his neck and looking, he imagined, 

 like an ibex. 



This took us to lunch time, which meal 

 was followed by an hour's letter writing, 

 and a couple of hours' reading. I had 

 plenty of literature, as I had subscribed 

 to the very excellent Srinagar library. I 

 could have six volumes at a time, which 

 I changed whenever I had occasion to 

 send for letters and supplies. I was lucky 

 enough to have a lady friend in Srinagar 

 who chose my books for me, and I owe her 

 a debt of gratitude for the skill she showed 

 in her selections. These books were, of 

 course, only used for reading indoors ; I had 

 sixpenny editions of Dickens, Thackeray, 

 etc., which I took up the hill with me daily, 

 and which, as might be expected, got hope- 

 lessly spoilt. 



Getting tired of sitting indoors, I thought 

 I would have a stroll outside, especially as 

 it had left off snowing, and the clouds were 

 rolling away. 



I emerged, therefore, into the " village," 



