CHAPTER XXXIX. 



HINTS ON TRAVELLING AND CAMP 

 EQUIPMENT. 



There is perhaps no country in which the sportsman who wanders beyond the reach of 

 railways and metalled roads can travel in such comfort and at such small expense, as in the 

 various provinces of India. Thanks to the comparatively low rates charged for the hire of 

 country transport, and the cheapness of labor, he can penetrate to even the most remote 

 districts without depriving himself of any of the ordinary conveniences of life. Adapting 

 his equipment and description of transport to the districts which he proposes to visit, he may 

 start from any part of India at the shortest notice, and roam for months as inclination 

 prompts him, at considerably less cost than if he remained in his own house. 



The means of transport upon which he must rely are, country carts, camels, bullocks, 

 mules or ponies, yaks (in Thibet), and coolies or porters ; and, in certain districts, elephants. 



In most of the hill provinces he will have to depend upon coolies alone, at any rate as 

 soon as he leaves the beaten paths. 



TRAVELLING IN THE HILLS. 



As the greater part of my book refers to the Himalayas, I will first give my ideas of the 

 equipment most suitable for mountain travelling, which, with some modifications according 

 to circumstances, will be found equally well adapted for other parts of India. 



When travelling in the hills, it is desirable to restrict one's baggage as much as possible 

 consistently with reasonable convenience. It is a great mistake to stint one's-self unnecessarily 

 but at the same time comfort is diminished rather than increased by dragging about a quantity 

 of superfluous luxuries. 



The sportsman who works hard must be well clothed and well fed ; but many changes 

 of dress are not required, and very simple fare is relished in the bracing climate of the 

 Himalayas. 



I am no teetotaller, and I thoroughly enjoy the soothing influence of a cigar, but I 

 strongly recommend any one who has much mountain climbing to do, to abstain as much as 

 possible from liquor and tobacco, both of which are undoubtedly bad for ' the wind.' 



In many parts of the hills inevitable delay is caused if a large number of coolies are 

 required, as they frequently have to be collected from scattered and distant villages : and 

 even when procurable, a long string of coolies is much less manageable on the march than a 

 smaller number. Moreover, when the resources of a village are too heavily taxed, some of 



