KASHMIR. 
27 
which he was engaged, that it was impossible to come 
much in contact with him without being infected 
with his love of exploration. 
He was a little indiscreet in fully divulging all his 
plans, and had he been less courageous and impe- 
tuous he might possibly have eluded the plots laid to 
Compass his end. He was quite aware of the great 
risk he was running, but started with a light heart ; 
determined to effect the object he had undertaken or 
perish in the attempt. 
Whilst we were in Srinagar the temperature 
varied from as low as 50° F. during the night to a 
maximum of 80° F. in the shade during the day. We 
had slight thunderstorms every other day, which 
cooled the air and prevented the heat during the 
day becoming oppressive, as it often is at this season 
in Kashmir. About this time some vague rumours 
reached us from India, having come probably via 
Cdbul, that there were disturbances in Yarkand, and 
as Mr. Forsyth had peremptory orders to return at 
once if he should find that absolute peace did not 
exist in the Atalik Ghazi's dominions, it was necessary 
to take steps to discover whether or not there was 
any truth in these rumours. 
With this view Ibrahim Khan, a deputy inspector 
in the Panjab police force, who accompanied us, and 
who had great knowledge of the frontier tribes, being 
a frontier man himself, was sent off with two of his 
men by the short route via Gilgit, to make his way 
to Yarkand, and meet us before we entered Yarkand 
territory. Tara Singh, a very enterprising Sikh 
trader, who had returned the previous year from 
Yarkand, volunteered along with his brother to go to 
