CHAPTER XVII 



THE DWELLERS IN THE MOUNTAINS 



" THE baggage will be sent forward to-morrow 

 morning at four o'clock. The Sahib can follow in the 

 course of the morning. The first camping ground 

 is only twelve miles off." 



" Uzur qui merbani " was on the tip of my tongue, 

 but I succeeded in answering correctly, " Very well, 

 Paul." 



Sultana, the head shikari, Samdu and Unkar, his 

 satellites, as well as " Mr " Varadara, as the magistrate 

 of Uri called my servant Paul, join me, and the 

 Tassildar, Lambardar, Jamardar, Chokidar, Himaldar, 

 and Hesseldar the last named was the night-watch- 

 man accompanied by numerous minor lights and 

 by every male in the place, down to the lowest 

 pariah dog, ceremoniously conduct me to the out- 

 skirts of the village. " Salaam, Sahib ! " low bows 

 and the waving of hands. 



We march on in silence, Sultana and Samdu in 

 front, and Varadara and Unkar bringing up the rear. 

 The ground is still fairly even, the path beaten down 



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