THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
been from falls. The only case I can call to mind, which occurred while 
actually shooting, is that of Johnson, who lost his life near Boonji, in 
Astor, by slipping in his hurry to get down to a beast he had wounded, and 
he was no tyro at the sport. It was in attempting the ascent of that mighty 
mountain, NangaParbat, which towers up 26,600 feet, that A. F. Mummery, 
one of the best Alpine climbers we have ever had, was lost in 1895. The 
exact manner of his death will always remain a mystery, but the assump- 
tion is that he was carried away by an avalanche, or killed by a fall of rock. 
When one reads of the number of deaths that occur regularly every year 
in the Alps, the paucity of accidents in the Himalayas is all the more 
surprising. However, the hunter is not likely to take quite as many risks 
as the alpine climber; yet it must be remembered that there are many 
awkward places to be traversed when after mountain game, and it is often 
much easier to get up a place than to get down it, when one cannot see 
exactly where to put the feet. 
The greatest care should be taken in crossing wet grass slopes, especially 
when covered with melting snow, as they frequently end in a precipice, 
and for these the Alpine boot with spikes in the heel gives more security 
than any other form of footgear. Many men adopt the native grass shoe, 
which is worn over a cloth sock with the big toe divided; these have the 
merit of comparative noiselessness and keep the toes warm when crossing 
a snow pass, but are apt to cause sore feet to those unaccustomed to 
wearing them. 
As the cold at high altitudes is always considerable, a good supply of 
warm underclothing should be taken, and a blanket coat is a great comfort 
to put on in the evenings; in Ladak the wind is most penetrating, and a 
leather lining is about the only thing that will keep it out. The heat by 
day is sometimes intense, especially in the gorges of the Upper Indus, 
where khaki drill will be wanted; also a solar topee, which should be of 
felt and not a pith one, as the former stands rough usage much the better. 
For wearing in and around camp a pair of “ gum ” boots as high as the 
knee are useful, as nothing else will keep one’s feet dry in wet snow. 
When crossing a high pass I always wear a motor mask, with dark 
glasses let into it, as the glare from the snow blisters the skin on the cheeks 
and tips of the ears, and may cause snow blindness. With such a variety of 
climate, a considerable amount of clothes must be taken, but as transport 
is cheap it is a mistake to stint oneself in this respect. 
In order to avoid dressing in the middle of the night when shooting, it 
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