The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-09-26

INC hth4AMy oss
An Interesting and Instructive Letter.
.ALLAHABAD, INDIA, August 3.-After
deciding how we would spend our va
cation,the first thing that engaged our
attention was suitable outfit. 1t
was part of our plan to trough it. F"
And so we reduced the outfit to the
smallest possible amount, of the
most useful articles. In many
places it was out of the question to
buy food so we provided small
store of canned fruits, meats and
other provisions that could be pack
ed in small space.
Then we each procured rough
suit capable of enduring the wear
and tear of a mountain tramp and u
heavy pair of boots, in order to ia
cilitate climbing steep precipitous
paths as to aid in getting a secure
footing when crossing steep, slippery
ice. We each armed ourselves with
stout six foot staff, shod at the small
end with an iron point. / might
also say that we did not venture into
the wild Himalayas without thor
oughly arming ourselves. These
mountains abound in game large and
small, harmless and fierce.
Our stores, clothes and the little
bedding we took, together with few
simple cooking vessels furnished
loads for five natives. A Hill man is
constitutionally lazy, and will take
up parcel weighing from thirty to
thirty five pounds, and with grunt
lay it down again saying, This is
a load for two men," These five
men, together with my servant
whom we took along to cook for us
and to forage for supplies constitu-
ted our retinue.
But this sketch would not be com
plete without another word about our
cook or as we called him "the boy"
although he was older than either of
us. He is a follower of the false
Prophet, and as fighting is not con
trary to the Moslem faith he volun-
teered to do all the fighting that
needed to be done. Moreover he
took upon himself without asking
permission to do all the lying and
stealing for the party-this too, not
being especially inconsistent with
his creed. To do him justice he is
as Bill Nye has somewhere said "a
thoughtful and painstaking liar,"
and / might also ada conscien-
tious thief. But in regard to the
last named accomplishment, it is
only fair to say that while he stole
from US without mercy, be would
permit no one else to exercise the
same function. Somehow Indian
servants regard their master as their
own legitimate prey, but resent any
intrusion by other servants.
With this outfit we set out from
Naini Tai on the afternoon of May 4th
for march oftwelye miles to our first
halting place. The Indian govern
ment has built for the benefit of
travellers in the mountains what are
called dak bungalows at distances
varying from twenty to five miles
apart. In these, the traveller may
find shelter and safety, but he must
provide his own accommodations.
There is in most places simply the
house, but nothing in the way offood
and next to no furniture.
1t was nine o'clock at night, when
foot sore, weary and hungry we
reached the dak bungalow. But it
was past ten ere our boy could pro-
vide a simple meal. Remembering
the hot sun of the first day, our late
start and late arrival at the resting
place l said to my friend just be-
fore retiring, we must get an early
start tomorrow so as to get far on
the way before it gets hot. He turn
ed tired face toward me, and in a
voice that spoke even more than the
face, said: mo, let me have my way
this time and you may have yours
all the rest of the time"
When morning came neither of us
felt much like moving on and l was
glad enough to let him have his way.
When we did finally muster up the
courage, we were sorry looking
pair of travellers, stiff, sore and lame.
Nor did the prospect before us serve
to inspire with much confidence. The
day before the road bed had been
comparatively level, but the road
that lay before US now was up hill
and down-each hill being very steep
and several miles long. They told
us the distance for that day was nine
miles but it certainly seemed more
like twenty five. Never in my life
have I seen such long miles as those
over which we passed that day. AT
mid day, when the sun was pouring
its burning rays direct on our devo-
ted heads, we, tired as tired could be,
met a company of natives who told
us we we're just half way. l think
no news could have fallen with such
a ''dull sickening thud" on us as
that did. Could we have gotten hold
at this time of the man who first
recommended tramp in the Hills as
the most pleasant way of spending a
vacation, it would have gone hard
with him. for we felt almost desper-
ate. However we managed to com
plete the days journey by three
o'clock
After resting the remainder of the
day and the night we felt fresh fol
the next day. This march was easier
and accompanied with much less
expenditure of energy to say nothing
of patience This days tramr
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