A CRUEL CUSTOM. 7
The journey to Leh was marked by one unpleasant event, a slight attack of sunstroke from which Pike suffered owing to insufficient protection from the sun, and by troublesome mules, many of which showed great dislike of their loads.
The mules and ponies, the former in excellent condition, had met us a few marches from Leh, and I at once
set myself against the absurd and cruel habit in vogue in Turkestan, and seen also in Ladak, of tying up animals without food or water for some hours after a march, and 'of watering soon after feeding. On this subject Ramzan, who, I believe, had been a tailor, but had now blossomed out into a bashi, or head of a caravan, received strict orders, which he repeated to me, and, apparently, clearly understood, but the moment my back was turned and the
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