MAHSER FISHING 65 



I saw my line moving rapidly to the place 

 where the pool ended in a tremendous rapid, and, 

 though I scrambled vigorously over the debris 

 of the landslip, he was into this rapid before I 

 cleared the pool. Down the rapid he went, and 

 over 200 yards of line was out before I could 

 get clear. There was dead water at the end of 

 the pool, and I plunged wildly into this ; but 

 fortunately swimming was unnecessary, and I 

 managed to get on terms with the fish, who had 

 worn himself out by his efforts. 



When hauled ashore, a mahser lies like a log, 

 and it is easy for a man to put his hands round 

 his head and haul him in. I never used net or 

 gaff, and Buta, the Drai, who handled fish for 

 me in the Bias, never failed to land a fish. Some 

 dexterity is, however, necessary, or fingers may 

 be crunched. 



The Ban junction of the Poonch River is a 

 place to be remembered. There is a long rapid 

 in the Poonch at the junction, fairly slow at the 

 beginning, but ending in strong white water. 

 Half-way down the rapid there is a great rock 

 on the bank of the river, jutting out into the 

 stream ; and, unless you have a boat, if a fish 

 passes this rock you are done. Even with a boat 

 it is exciting work. The boatmen have to row 

 wildly to turn the boat out of the rapid to the 

 shore, and then to spring into the strong water 

 of the rapid up to their middles to hold the boat ; 

 and during this time your line may be flying 

 out down the rapid, and even across the pool 

 below, if the fish makes for the next rapid beyond. 

 I went down the first rapid, across the pool, and 

 5 



