FAIRLY IN THE WILDS 113 



in looking after our goats and sheep. A 

 fourth was always up the hill with us carry- 

 ing the lunch, and another was busily en- 

 gaged in collecting supplies for me from 

 the neighbouring villages and huts, while 

 two more were constantly on the road bring- 

 ing the main supplies of flour and wood for 

 the shikaris and servants. Now, however, 

 we were going right away from any civiliza- 

 tion, indeed our furthest point would be 

 about a hundred miles from Metwan, and as 

 all supplies except those that could walk, 

 such as sheep, would have to be carried out 

 to us, more coolies would be required, and 

 unfortunately the more coolies there are the 

 more mouths there are to feed. Luckily it is 

 customary that these extra " local " coolies 

 get only their pay, and have to make their 

 own arrangements for food ; this is very 

 little hardship to them, for they have lots of 

 little brothers or relations, of about fourteen 

 years old, who are just as well employed in 

 taking their food out to them as in sitting 

 doing nothing at home. The necessary 



