344 DKASS FORT. 



we gave up the chase, we were fully ten miles 

 from our tents with night coming on ; having 

 to return across the river at a bridge, we 

 expected to find ponies awaiting us there, but 

 being disapjjointed, had a long weary trudge 

 in the dark, and found Colls and R. just 

 returned to camp, after an unsuccessful 

 day. 



Upon after-supper discussion, I found them 

 both very anxious to get to Cashmere, so I 

 gave up the ibex valley and the shalmar 

 shooting, rather unwillingly, and we con- 

 tinued to move onwards. The shooting about 

 Kirboo is, I am sure, capital. On the 30th 

 we crossed a large river, up which there is 

 another road into Cashmere, mentioned by 

 Moorcroft. ^ 



August 1st. — We reached Drass, a fort 

 inferior in strength to that at Ladak ; here 

 there was nothing of interest, so we went 

 onwards a march above Drass, and encamped 

 in a green meadow, in the midst of hills 

 covered with brush willow and birch-trees ; 

 the first real glimpse we had had, of anything 



