CHAPTER VI 



FAIRLY IN THE WILDS 



WE spent the next day in making ar- 

 rangements for going into the wilds 

 proper, as after we had left Metwan (where 

 we now were), we should not see another 

 village, and all our supplies would have to 

 be brought from a distance. 



Up to date we had had with us seven men 

 from Lassoo's village who acted as coolies or 

 carriers during the march, and made them- 

 selves generally useful when we were not 

 on the move. Two of them were as a rule 

 absent, on the road to and from Srinagar 

 (which was one hundred and eighty miles 

 away), getting letters and books, and taking 

 letters, horns and skins. A third helped 

 my " bearer" in camp to collect wood, water, 

 eggs, milk, etc. for daily consumption, and 



112 



