TRAVELLING VELLING IN THE DARK 249
triumphantly, " Of course, Sahib, there it is," pointing to a semicircular wall of rubble, not more than eighteen inches high at its highest parts, but supposed to be coinpleted by a slightly overhanging cliff of solid rock. Dass immediately took possession of this so-called " shelter," while others stretched their weary limbs on the ground for a few minutes' rest before setting about the preparation for the night's repose. Then lanterns were lighted ; Yul Bash and two companions went to gather firewood, and I looked about to select a suitable spot for my quarters for the night. Close to the " ungur " there was another shelter, formed by projecting rocks, and as this was supposed to be the most desirable spot which the locality possessed, I promptly claimed it for myself. It was in fact not one whit better than the. open ground, but the natives considered it superior, and had I not occupied it I should have fallen in their estimation, and have thus prepared trouble in the future. Our long and toilsome. day's labour came to an end about 9.30 o'clock, when Ram Singh, Abdul Karim, and Dass, as well as myself, enjoyed a hastily prepared but well-earned supper. Then I had time to deliberate on the annoyances of the day. If Yul Bash, who knew the route and the distance perfectly, had informed me of them (instead of protesting his ignorance) we should have started earlier ; we should have carried less baggage, for our tents might, with much advantage, have been left at Pilipert, and we could have obtained more yaks. But Yul Bash loved , to keep his information to himself, and, in a curious way, to pose as a man of mystery. For the determination of the position of our bivouac I was too tired to take astronomical observations, which high and almost vertical cliffs and the winding of the valley would have rendered somewhat difficult. I made preparation for rest, lengthening the " shelter " according to the measure of my own stature, and I was
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