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We must get into Simla as soon as may be, his companion replied. 'For my own part, I wish our reports had been sent back from Hilas, or even Leh. 'The English post is better and safer. Remember we are given all facilities and Name of God! they give them to us too! Is it unbelievable stupidity? 'It is pride pride that deserves and will receive punishment. 'Yes!
They must all be kept. The maps they draw better maps than me of course. All the native letters oho! and particularly the murasla. He sniffed the embroidered bag. 'That must be from Hilas or Bunar, and Hurree Babu spoke truth. By Jove! It is a fine haul. I wish Hurree could know ... The rest must go out of the window. He fingered a superb prismatic compass and the shiny top of a theodolite.
The troops were recalled because the Government believed the Five Kings were cowed; and it is not cheap to feed men among the high Passes. Hilas and Bunar Rajahs with guns undertook for a price to guard the Passes against all coming from the North.
One instance of the regard shewn by Pilades to theatrical propriety is preserved to us, and not unworthy of attention. He had been publickly challenged by Hilas, once a pupil of his, to represent the greatness of Agamemnon: Hilas came upon the stage with buskins, which, in the nature of stilts, made him of an artificial height; in consequence of which he greatly over-topped the croud of actors who surrounded him. This passed well enough, 'till Pilades appeared with an air, stern and majestic. His serious steps, his arms a-cross, his motion sometimes slow, sometimes animated, with pauses full of meaning, his looks now fixed on the ground, now lifted to heaven, with all the attitudes of profound pensiveness, painted strongly a man taken up with great things, which he was meditating, weighing, and comparing, with all the dignity of kingly importance. The spectators, struck with the justness, with the energy and real elevation of so expressive a portraiture, unanimously adjudged the preference to Pilades, who, coolly turning to Hilas, said to him, "Young man, we had to represent a king who commanded over twenty kings: you made him tall: I
For the rest, Hurree could so stage-manage the journey through the hills that Hilas, Bunar, and four hundred miles of hill-roads should tell the tale for a generation. Men who cannot control their own coolies are little respected in the Hills, and the hillman has a very keen sense of humour.
Over the Passes this year after snow-melting' he shivered afresh 'come two strangers under cover of shooting wild goats. They bear guns, but they bear also chains and levels and compasses. 'Oho! The thing gets clearer. 'They are well received by Hilas and Bunar. They make great promises; they speak as the mouthpiece of a Kaisar with gifts.
When the troops were withdrawn, I was left behind to pay the coolies who made new roads in the Hills. This road-making was part of the bond between Bunar, Hilas, and the Government. 'So? And then? 'I tell you, it was jolly-beastly cold up there too, after summer, said Hurree Babu confidentially. 'I was afraid these Bunar men would cut my throat every night for thee pay-chest.
'All their books are in the large kilta with the reddish top books and reports and maps and I have seen a King's letter that either Hilas or Bunar has written. They guard it most carefully. They have sent nothing back from Hilas or Leh. That is sure. 'Who is with them? 'Only the beegar-coolies. They have no servants. They are so close they cook their own food. 'But what am I to do?
This pleased the Government, anxious to avoid expense, and a bond was made for so many rupees a month that Hilas and Bunar should guard the Passes as soon as the State's troops were withdrawn. At that time it was after we two met I, who had been selling tea in Leh, became a clerk of accounts in the Army.
'This is fine! This is finest! Mister O'Hara! you have ha! ha! swiped the whole bag of tricks locks, stocks, and barrels. They told me it was eight months' work gone up the spouts! By Jove, how they beat me! ... Look, here is the letter from Hilas! He intoned a line or two of Court Persian, which is the language of authorized and unauthorized diplomacy.
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