132 IBEX SHOOTING 



" No, sahib, they don't. Some of them 

 think that we are made of wood, and expect 

 us to do anything, while they do nothing, 

 and seem to forget that we want food and 

 clothes just as much as they do. We attach 

 greater importance to a sahib being kind 

 than to anything else. You see we are far 

 away from our homes, and unless we are 

 looked after and treated fairly we get sick ; 

 and you must remember that to a poor 

 working man health is everything. If we 

 get sick and can't work, what 's to happen 

 to our wives and children ? " 



" Now," he continued, " I'll tell you 

 how you came to get the coolies to come 

 over the Mergen Pass. Do you remember 

 that old shikari who was so ill and poor, 

 and to whom you gave five rupees ? Well, 

 when I had collected the coolies for the 

 pass, at the last minute they got nervous, 

 and said that it was all very well, but what 

 would happen if any of them got hurt ? 

 'Why/ said I, 'the sahib will look after 

 you, and nurse you, and give you wages 



