THE KHAN S SECRETARY. 191 



and had only just returned from a pilgrimage to 

 Zassah. I was by no means disappointed being 

 saved these formal visits, though I naturally con- 

 veyed a different impression to the Tunktchi. 



I applied for a guide, but they were evidently 

 suspicious as to my intentions, and always made 

 excuses, saying one had not turned up. At 

 last he brought a man, whom I soon found out 

 through an interpreter was no good, and told 

 the Tunktchi so, and that I must have a proper 

 man. I had come a long way, I said, to get 

 some shooting, and if my journey was to no 

 purpose his face would be blackened. This 

 had the desired effect, in so far that he sug- 

 gested my taking the Kalmuki I had met at 

 Kurla, which suited very well, as he spoke 

 Turki, and I could converse with him through 

 JafTer. 



Terms were quickly settled, only the Kalmuki 

 said quietly that he must ask me to pay in 

 advance, as the Tunktchi required a dusturi a 

 commission of about half what I paid ; but he 

 promised to take me quickly on to ground 

 where I should have as much sport as I wanted 

 in a week. I handed over a hundred tongas 

 about twenty rupees quite delighted to settle 



