66 MARKHOR SHOOTING 



Two large dark hawks, or eagles, passed a few yards over 

 my head in full pursuit of a large snow-cock ; they went 

 at a terrific pace, but the snow-cock had a good start, and 

 I think sot under shelter on the next rids^e before his 

 pursuers could catch him : it was a grand sight, though it 

 lasted only for a few seconds. The weather was very 

 muggy and hazy since the rain and snow. We could not 

 see any distance distinctly. Sharafa, who had gone farther 

 up, came back to report seven large markhor in a small 

 valley to the left, but they soon fled out of sight round a 

 rock, and Mirza Khan said there was absolutely no way 

 by which we could follow them. About two o'clock we 

 sighted the same lot of markhor on the hillside right 

 across the valley, and shortly after another flock of three 

 smaller animals some distance lower down. It was most 

 provoking. Yesterday we were on that side of the valley 

 on the very ground these animals now occupied, and 

 sighted the markhor on this side. To-day, after toiling 

 up to this ridge, we saw the bucks on the very ground we 

 went over yesterday. There was no way of getting near 

 them, so we lay down comfortably under the shade of 

 pines, and studied them till it was time to go down. 



This watching of the game and noting their habits is, I 

 think, only less pleasant than the actual stalk and the 

 successful shot at the end of it. The seven males were 

 immense brutes, every one with splendid horns and long 

 shaggy beard and coat that seemed, through the telescope, 

 to sweep the ground as they grazed about. These old 

 gentlemen, like humans who have passed the meridian of 

 life, found their only pleasure at the table, and were very 

 intent on their dinner, never for a moment ceasing to feed 

 till it was time to retire : they then grazed their way 

 slowly up, towards some rocks, where doubtless they 

 passed the night. Two of the other lot were more lively ; 



