VILE TRACK. 195
route was over difficult and stony ground to within a short distance of Kha Yak Day (prace where much snow falls), where we found shelter for the night in small, low caves, hollowed out of the loess which formed the bank of a small, dry watercourse. About nine in the evening the temperature stood at about 300 F., and I was obliged to lay aside my fur coat. When I examined the provisions sent forward with the caravan to this place, I found there had been disobedience and theft by the way. Full rations of meat and other provisions had been served out for the journey, but two of the men, consulting only their own preferences, had ignored the rations and chosen their diet for themselves. A strict investigation was made, and the guilt having been brought home to the culprits a moderate punishment was awarded.
From this camp to the neighbourhood of Alajoi the track was steep, narrow, and, where it lay along the bottom of the gorge, very stony. The worst part of it began a little more than a mile to the north of Kha Yak Day. Here, at a spot marked by gigantic boulders, the track left the valley and, having risen for a few yards over steep rock, went so closely round the foot of a large boulder that several of the animals had to be unloaded before attempting to pass. From this point there was a steep ascent of some hundreds of feet to the top of a ridge, which we had to cross in order to avoid a waterfall barring our way down the valley. The descent was very steep ; at one place it was so narrow and dangerous that the men had to carry the baggage, and prevent the ponies from turning somersaults down the declivity by hanging on to their tails. With care we reached the bottom, which was only a few yards across, and then we began to climb the steep ascent on the other side by means of zigzag paths. As the caravan slowly mounted, the men and animals in front set in motion numberless stones, which
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