910 Journal of a Trip to the Burenda Pass in 1836. [Nov* 



Having halted a day for our wounded companion we again resumed 

 our journey on the 2nd October up a very precipitous and rocky 

 ascent of several miles, and had rather a fatiguing march, the latter 

 part of the way lying through dense forests with occasional enormous 

 masses of rocks intercepting our path ; caves and traces of bears were 

 numerous. We at length encamped in the middle of the forest with 

 beautiful bold rocky scenery around us. Here, close to us in an 

 opening of the forest was another large flock of sheep. 



Whilst engaged in collecting mosses and lichens, which were here 

 very beautiful and growing in abundance on the trees, I was startled 

 at hearing a bear roar at no great distance from me. On returning to 

 camp however, to give notice to the sportsmen of the circumstance, 

 I learned that a shikari had come suddenly upon the animal which 

 caused him to roar, while he scuttled away in one direction and the 

 shikari another as fast as their legs could carry them, both wonder- 

 ing no doubt, why his enemy did not seize him ! We failed in finding 

 him again. 



The night was very cold and the water froze in the jugs. This day 

 our supplies came from a village called Thargong, in the perguna of 

 Suppael, at some distance down the khads below us, and the zemin- 

 dar who was a fine ruddy-faced fellow, was very fond of snuff, which 

 he carried wrapped up in a piece of paper, and stuck in the rim of 

 his bonnet. Having a box in my pocket, which was labelled, and had 

 once contained, " antibilious pills," I presented it to him, with which 

 he appeared highly delighted, twisting and turning it about much 

 after the manner of a monkey, and laughing and talking with his 

 companions on his good fortune. He instantly put his snuff into it, 

 took a pinch with an air of some consequence and threw the paper 

 from him ; this was secured by one of his followers, as being very 

 strongly impregnated with tobacco, it answered the double purpose 

 of snuff and snuff-box ! 



The dress of the people hitherto consisted of the common cloth hill- 

 cap rolled up all round, and the body clothed with blanket fitted close 

 over the breast, plaited round the waist and falling to the knee, like 

 a highlander's kilt ; on their feet they wear a sort of half shoe, half 

 sandal, sometimes made of string plaited like chain work, with soles of 

 the same or of leather ; others are made of coarse hill cloth or blanket 

 and soled with leather. 



In cold weather, too, they wear blanket trowsers, wrinkled and 

 close fitting from the ankle to the knee, round which it becomes full 

 and Iqqzq so as not to offer an impediment in climbing a hill. 



