afootthroughkash00douguoft

KASHMIR VALLEYS 5
voluminous comforters, and a big fire blazing in the
" guest room " of the hotel was hailed with joy.
We could not stay round it for long, and by ten I
had started on the second stage of my long drive in a
tonga of exactly the same build as the one in which I
had ascended to Muixee. Slung on two wheels, it was
in shape something like a low pony cart, the two seats
placed back to back, a canopy over it protecting us
partially from rain and sun. The ponies were harnessed
Tonga
one between the shafts, the other giving " outside help,"
and running quite independently save for one strap.
The system sounds impossible, but in practice worked
fairly well,
the wickeder animal having free scope for
his sins, the milder keeping the vehicle straight on its
path, assisted by the forward jerks of its companion.
The road was very steep and slippery, and we proceeded
at a pace distinctly to be marked "prestissimo."
Suddenly the rain clouds broke and emptied themselves,
and it was as if the heavens were descending in sheets