He was appointed Joint-Commissioner in Ladakh in 1889 (where he was described as "an energetic and able officer"), and Assistant Resident in the recently annexed Jammu and Kashmir in November 1890, ruled by Maharaja Pratap Singh. During his Indian furloughs he travelled in many parts of the East, and penetrated some distance into Tibet in 1891. He accomplished a remarkable ride on horseback from Leh to Srinagar, 250 miles, in 33 hours; crossed three passes of the Himalayas at around 13,500 ft.; covered the distance, 152 miles, in 37 hours