THE SKIN RAFT. 6l 



fully laden, and without them our goods and 

 chattels would have got soaked through. Hav- 

 ing proceeded so far, I asked how the raft was 

 to be got across, for I saw no paddles or oars of 

 any kind, such as are used in Kashmir and other 

 parts. Barat replied, " Oh, that is the ponies' 

 business ; you will soon see how it is done." 

 Bower's riding-pony, which happened to be the 

 most suitable, was caught, and after some trouble 

 forced into the river in front of the raft as it lay 

 alongside of the shore, which was here rather 

 abrupt. He was taken by the head by one of 

 the Mullahs, who was mounted on an inflated 

 goatskin ; his tail was then made fast to a tow- 

 rope fixed to the raft, and he was headed by his 

 driver, who swam alongside across the stream ! 

 Rather a novel sort of propeller, but it worked 

 admirably. The stream took them down about 

 100 yards, when the pony found his legs and 

 hauled the raft up on the opposite shore. Hav- 

 ing discharged its cargo, the raft returned in the 

 same way to our bank, and landed 200 yards 

 below. This was the slowest part of the pro- 

 ceeding, for it had to be worked back up-stream 

 to the point of departure. It was then loaded 

 and ferried across as before. 



