the ponds and turned off when full; the pond is surrounded by a stone
wall high enough to allow a man, when crouching, to be unobserved; over
and across one-half or less of this pond a rough trellis-work of thin
willow branches is put up: the birds on alighting are gradually driven
under this canopy, and a sudden rush is made by those on the watch.
Hundreds in this manner are daily caught during the season. The flesh
is eaten, and from the down on their breasts coarse overcoats and
gloves are made, known as _margaloon_. This method of trapping is
borrowed from the Kafirs.

A short distance beyond the village of Daroshp are some mineral springs
that are visited by invalids from Badakshan.

Having satisfied myself on my return from the Kotal by a visit up the
Bogosta Valley that the descent into the Arnawai was not practicable
for some weeks to come, I returned to Chitral on the 22nd of May. Some
Kafirs had come in, and amongst them one who had just a year ago taken
in to Kamdesh a Pathan Christian evangelist, who had unfortunately
given out that he was sent by the Indian Government, and that his
masters would, if he gave a favourable report of them, come to terms
with the Kafirs, so as to secure them in future against Mahommedan
inroads. My visit occurred inopportunely with regard to this statement
of the evangelist, and although I stated that his utterances were
false, the Kafir would have it that I had come on behalf of the
Government, and that the Chief of Chitral had persuaded me into giving
him the arms and sums of money I had brought for them. This Kafir next
wanted me to pledge myself to aid their sect against Asmar, and on my
refusing left my quarters in a pet, but returned after a couple of
hours, saying that I might accompany him as doctor, and attend an aged
relative of his.