THE BROWN BEAR 31 



body lying on the bare hillside resembles so much the 

 human corpse that few can look at it without feelings 

 of compunction. Moreover, the sport itself is so tame, 

 that, after obtaining a couple of good skins, the 

 majority of sportsmen leave him alone and turn their 

 attention to worthier game. Nevertheless, a certain class 

 persecute poor Bruin perpetually ; and, besides, every tourist, 

 whether sportsman or not, must be able to say that he has 

 " shot a bear." The 'native shikari, too, can always secure 

 a good price for his skin, and he is constantly on the look- 

 out for the poor animal. 



Although my sympathies are entirely with the bear, I 

 cannot deny his occasional mischief. In a sheepfold he is 

 apt to be very destructive, and if he makes regular visits 

 to a field, a decent crop need not be expected ; but these 

 are rare occurrences. Bruin is by nature timid, and by 

 habit a dweller remote from human habitations ; he cannot 

 tolerate man or his belongings. When the shepherd with 

 his flock enters a valley, the brown bear promptly makes 

 tracks for the opposite crest in search of solitude. 



The localities in the Astor district where markhor and 

 ibex abound are so numerous, so well-known to the local 

 shikaris, and to several from Kashmir, that the sportsman 

 will never have any difficulty in finding them ; the earlier 

 he goes in the season, the better his chances of securing a 

 good place ; if he arrives somewhat late, he will have to 

 travel a good distance towards Bunji and beyond, before he 

 can find a vacant valley. Again, if he goes very late, that 

 is, towards the end of the season, he will find many good 

 nalas available, but the game will be hard to find and 

 most difficult to circumvent. 



As regards markhor, the shooting grounds are divided 

 into two distinct portions in Astor proper by the river of 

 that name. First is the range of mountains that begins 



