484 JVotes of a trip from Simla to tJie Spiti Valley. [No. 5, 



proper supply of iron pegs, in case of the ground being stony or 

 frozen : — the ordinary blanket tent used by some, lined with wax 

 cloth, being in my opinion inconveniently small, especially if two or 

 more constitute a party. At the same time in no case should the tent 

 be too big for one man to carry. 



As regards servants, it is by no means easy to dispense entirely 

 with Hindustanis, though the majority of them are badly suited for 

 hill travelling. Musalmans are far preferable to Hindus, as from the 

 nature of their food they are more capable of enduring the rigour of 

 the climate at a high altitude. One or two men should, however, be 

 added to the party who are familiar with the language of the parts 

 to be traversed, and I found nothing so inconvenient as the want of 

 a man who could hold converse with the people of Spiti and Ladak, 

 which none of my men could do properly. 



Another very necessary thing is to be provided with an ample 

 supply of good English walking boots, and thick woollen stockings. 

 I found the coarse native stockings, which can be got in Simla, three 

 pairs for a rupee, answer very well, though the European article is of 

 course preferable. I have seen much inconvenience caused from want 

 of proper boots, which wear out with unexpected rapidity in the 

 hills, especially during wet weather, and if the same boots are con- 

 tinued in wear when wet. I have seen it recommended in some work, 

 in case of a new boot proving tight, to break an egg into it before 

 putting it on, but a preferable plan I have found to be filling the 

 boot with warm water after it is put on. The surest plan, however, 

 to secure comfort in walking and avoid troublesome blisters on the 

 feet, is to have boots made large enough to admit of two pair of 

 thick woollen stockings being worn with them. The relief this plan 

 affords is wonderful. 



Powder and shot are articles which of course must be taken as 

 well as lead, and small quantities of either form very acceptable 

 presents to village headmen and others for any trifling services. The 

 summer time is, however, not the best for sport, as below the forest 

 line the jungle is too thick to enable one to see any distance, and in 

 the higher hills the game is distributed over a large area, which in 

 winter is inaccessible to them and circumscribed by snow. 



Throughout Bissahir and Spiti, the people seemed to have little 

 taste for shooting, though numbers of Burrel and Ibex are slaughtered 



