266 THE KARAKUL PAMIR AND HOME. 



At this period there came a very sad parting. 

 I had decided to send back Rahimdar, the Kash- 

 miri cook, and my excellent four-footed friend 

 Joker the former to Kashmir, and the latter to 

 Monsieur Teutsh at the Consulate in Kashgar. 

 Fitting out the chef with all the requisites for his 

 journey, and giving him one of the ponies to ride 

 and carry his kit, I told him to go back with a 

 guide who knew the road to Kashgar, where he 

 would probably find Captain Bower, and return 

 with him to Kashmir : failing that, there would 

 no doubt be a chance with some other caravan, to 

 which he could attach himself. It was a most 

 touching farewell, and the poor dog evidently 

 grasped the situation, for on bidding him good- 

 bye he set to work to howl as if his heart would 

 break. The Kashmiri joined in, and I left them 

 singing in chorus. 



To say that my feelings were harrowed is no 

 word for it ; and as I went sorrowfully on my 

 way, I missed my faithful companion of all these 

 months more than can be expressed, and would 

 have given anything that night to have seen him 

 come trotting back into my tent. 



Our start had been somewhat late, in conse- 

 quence of this separation ; we therefore made a 



