44 MARKHOR SHOOTING 



always correct in his conclusions regarding the wind's 

 direction. Ibex are always found higher up the valleys 

 than markhor : the latter seem able to endure heat better 

 than ibex, but they stick much more closely to rocky 

 precipices and dangerous ground than the ibex, who gener- 

 ally graze and wander about on level grassy hillsides for 

 longer periods than markhor. It was an unsatisfactory 

 business watching that markhor, as it turned out : having 

 studied the wary brute all day while he kept to his rocks, 

 he crossed the ridge and disappeared from sight just as 

 the sun was setting ; no doubt he went across to have his 

 evening's feed, and must have come back to his citadel for 

 the night after we left for camp. 



On the following day I went up early to the ridge 

 where I shot the markhor, but could see nothing for a 

 long time. At last there was a great rattling of stones 

 under the precipice I was sitting over, and soon after 

 some females and one small markhor were sighted far 

 below. The buck was last — a very small fellow, hardly 

 full grown. Wanting meat, I had two shots at him, and 

 gladly put on record that I missed. I returned to camp 

 at noon, turning a deaf ear to the shikari who tempted me 

 with stories of magnificent ibex higher up this valley ; I 

 wanted markhor first, and so prepared for a move to other 

 ground, 



Eeturning by the road we came, we reached Dashkin at 

 two o'clock. Coolies were not procurable, so I remained 

 for the day. No tent was put up, so I had to dodge the 

 sun round a bush. While I was having tea under my 

 bush, an old man from the village came up ; he told me 

 that he was formerly one of the lambardi'irs of Dashkin, 

 and was turned out because he was out-bribed by the 

 present holder of the appointment. It seems the Wazir 

 makes him the head-man who bribes highest. My 



