32 THE FRONTIER DISTRICT OF ASTOR 



from the Xanga Parbat peak and runs clown directly north 

 to the junction of the river with the Indus, below Eamghat. 

 This range on the west drains into the Indus, on the east 

 into the Astor river. The whole length may be about 

 thirty miles ; the side valleys ten and fifteen miles. 

 Those running down to the Astor river are not good for 

 markhor ; but those on the opposite side towards the 

 Indus are sure to yield trophies, the best that are to 

 be found in this country. The Biildar, however, is the 

 most widely known. It runs into the Indus a little below 

 the point where this river takes a turn at right angles to 

 the west. It contains a greater extent of shooting ground 

 than any other valley in Astor, but is most difficult of 

 access. First, there is no road to the valley ; it must be 

 entered by a path from the Astor side, after a difficult 

 climb, or by the Huttii Pir, which is a longer way ; and 

 secondly, the valley is scarcely within Kashmir boundaries, 

 and the officials are always reluctant to assist sportsmen to 

 get there, for fear of complications with the tribes just 

 across the Indus ; nevertheless, it is sure to be occupied 

 very early in the season. The large village of Ghor is 

 just opposite the opening of the Buldar ; the slopes of 

 both valleys can be minutely examined, even by the naked 

 eye, from either side, and the inhabitants of that village 

 are a notoriously turbulent lot. Even if the diplomatic 

 sportsman can " arrange " matters with the Wazir at Astor, 

 it is certain that the latter will pester him with messages 

 to the effect that some disturbance has occurred across the 

 river, and that the gentleman had better return. I believe 

 this state of affairs continues to the present day, though 

 the fort and garrison at Chilas has been established for 

 some years on the left bank of the Indus a few miles 

 lower down, and a good road connects it with the main 

 line between Bunji and Gilgit. The markhor in the 



