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Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books
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The heart of a continent : vol.1 |
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The people, too, as I came to know them, proved to be
particularly attractive. They are a manly race, with a hard,
resolute look about them, and they are devoted to games and
sport. They play polo with extraordinary zeal and energy,
their chief being one of the best and keenest players, and they
love dancing and music. At the same time, there is none of
that aloofness and sullen hidden suspicion and hatred which
often characterizes Pathan tribes, and they are ready and
willing to attach themselves to British officers. They are
undoubtedly the pick of the frontier, and every officer who has
lived amongst them likes them.
For about two and a half months I lived in this delightful
country, till the winter was approaching, and the beauties of
the place were day by day increased by the wonderful autumn
tints which the apricots and poplars take on, and the warm
hues of red and yellow and gold contrasted with the glittering
white of Rakapushi and the deep clear blue of the sky above.
Then, as I was engaged in building rough quarters for the
troops and myself for the winter, and converting the piles of
old matchlocks, which had been collected after the war, into
rude hoes and spades for the people, turning their swords
into ploughshares, news arrived that trouble had occurred in
Chitral, and Colonel Durand wrote to say that the Mehtar
had been killed, and that he wished me to come at once to
Gilgit with some Hunza levies.
On the frontier "at once" means at once, and in a little
more than two hours after receiving Colonel Durand's letter I
had packed up my things ; handed over what little "office"
there was to Lieutenant Gurdon ; arranged for the Hunza levies
to follow, and started on my ride of sixty-five miles to Gilgit.
During daylight there was little difficulty, but after the sun
had set, and when no stars appeared, and the night was pitch
dark, the task of finding my solitary way along a mountain
path by the side of steep cliffs and over troublesome rocks was
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