Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-09-20
VI Z

Three weeks previously we
had been having cold, clear evenings,
but a week since there had been
bite in the air as one dressed for pa
rade in the half light of dawn; now
the wind changed from north to south.
dust storms followed, the atmosphere
thickened, the glare seemed more In
tense, and the hot weather lethargy,
which would last for eight months,
settled down on the cantonment. 1t
was time to think of leave. Dalhousie
was the Valhalla of our objective. we
had written to the rajah. Sir Bhurin
Singh, for shikaris. and the last few
days we had almost forgotten the mis-
cries of the plains in the excitement
/ of the bazars, buying the necessary
stores. bargaining with and being
done" by osequious Hindus and Ma
| hometans.
Famous Golden Temple.
/ At Amritsar we broke the journey
| for a few hours to see the famous
/ Golden Temple. At Pathankot we left
/ the railway and drove in a tonga to
/ Dunera, a distance of twenty-eight
miles Relays of ponies were in wait
/ ing every five or six miles, fresh and
in fair condition after their winter
rest From Dunera we decided to
walk TO Dalhousie, taking coolie to
show US a short cut, by which the dis
lance was only twelve miles.
A few days later the welcome news
arrived that the Sach pass. leading
over the snow range, was open. Ac'
cordingly we FASTENED towards it. Al
it's foot we had to rearrange our kit
half of which had 10 be left behind
since the coolies could only carry hall
loads over the snow. We had camped
lust under the snow line. upon the
last patch of earth visible. under 81
gantic pine trees. There we found
it so cold that we were glad to share
one tent for warmth's sake. Alum
could not hear of attempting the pass
IL there should be any signs Of storm
and entertained us by detailing the
numerous times he had found corpsei
on it's summit AS it turned out
there was no need for anxiety. we
were called at three a. m, and soor
after made a start, our coolies behinC
US in Indian file, and men in advance
with ice-axes to cut steps in the diff
ficult places.
The descent was for the most par
slow, the snow being soft and up Il
our knees in places, but we found
good steep slope on which 1t wa
still hard. and we were able to tobog
gan to the valley below.
News having reached the camp tina
a goodly number of ibex had appeared
in some ranges situated about three
DAYS march to the northward. one
our party, Lieutenant Edwards D.
name, decided to try his luck afte
them. Accordingly we separated.
Ape Pays Visit.
At the home camp the next fort
night passed slowly and without sue
cess. though we went out every da.
to look for thar and ibex The usua
program was monotonous. Afte
breakfast, about eight o'clock. W
started off with two shikaris and
tiffin coolie for the ground where
bear OF a herd Of thar had last bee
seen. This was usually some thou
sand feet above camp. which 1tsel
, was eleven thousand feet up. and tn
, rarefied air made climbing very Ia
, borious. To smoke while walking
, even along the level, was quite impo'
, sible. Having reached a spot we
marked with recent tracks, we selec
ed good positions for observations
and remained in them quite silent 10
the remainder of the day. since
: though there was little chance Of tn
!. quarry appearing before evening.
was probably close by sheiterin
from the heat OF the sun. One ma