noon
The Indians were highly disappointed that they were not to go along , but the explorer did not wish to be bothered with them , and they would be useless on this excursion . Schoverling had provided himself with government maps showing the villages , and the best route across the plateau and through the hills had been traced out for him . On second thought , however , he sent back for Gholab Singh , who knew most of the native dialects from his years of residence in the country , and left the camp in charge of Guru instead . At noon they struck into the caravan track from the north , and stopped at each village in passing , where Gholab made inquiries . They found that there was no lack of chickens , and wild fowl might be had on every hand for the shooting . As for vegetables , every village had its mealie patch , yams , bananas , a beet-like plant , and other greens which none of the three recognized , but which Gholab assured them were excellent eating . Besides , there were quantities of fish in the streams .