TRADING WITH THE NATIVES. 319 



had come so far to hunt there, he would do me the favour 

 to extend the privilege to a month. Before taking their 

 departure, however, they asked me to sign an agreement to 

 the effect that I would not attempt to cross the river Sutlej, 

 and that I should return over the pass by the appointed 

 time, pending a reference to the Jongpen. They also left 

 two queer-looking old fellows of their number behind them, 

 to see that we did not trespass beyond the prescribed limits. 

 They were quite open to a little trade, and sold me a large 

 thick woollen rug called a " chookta," which, after drowning 

 its inhabitants by soaking it for several hours in the stream, 

 made a most comfortable and requisite addition to my wraps 

 at night. 



A sudden snowstorm delayed our departure until rather 

 late next morning, when we started in the direction of a 

 good locality for Oves Ammon, known as Tazang, with our 

 escort of Hoonya cavalry, mounted on yaks as their chargers, 

 following at some distance behind us. 



