246 FOREST LIFE AND SPORT IN INDIA 
There is an annual fair at Rémpur, the capital of 
Bashahr, which is opened by the Rajé in state, and 
here the specialities of Kulu, Thibet, and Ladakh, may 
be purchased, chiefly woollen cloths and rugs, heavy 
and warm. The Rajé is an aged man who speaks 
English well, and was a great sportsman in his day ; 
he has no son, and has, in common with many Indian 
Princes, the unhappiness of seeing in his heir, not a 
direct descendant, but a relative from the neighbour- 
ing State of Tehri. The Bashahris are a stupid 
people who cannot realize that events are happening 
around them. They have once of late years broken 
out into an absurd revolt that yielded to the 
presence of a few police; and a short time ago they 
ambushed a Forest Officer, and succeeded in shooting 
his dog. They appear to imagine that by such mis- 
deeds they will overawe the British Government, 
and the punishment that is meted out to them no 
doubt takes their innate foolishness into account. 
The Hindustan-Thibet road is known to all who 
travel in the Panjab hills, and is not of much 
interest either as regards scenery or sport, but it is 
of the greatest importance as regards the forests on 
either side of it. These control the watershed of 
the Sutlej River, and are leased from the Raja for 
about £650 a year. Under scientific treatment they 
bring in a large revenue, a fair proportion of which 
is now spent on improving the roads and bridges in 
the State, and thus facilitating intercourse with the 
surrounding countries. The forests consist princi- 
pally of cedar and pine, the former being of great 
size and beauty, especially in the temple groves, 
where they are protected as sacred. It is sad when 
