CHAPTER VI 



IBEX SHOOTING 



Gluttony of my talile-servant— Searcli for iliex— Grand view from a peak— 

 A successful stalk— And curious shot— Mirza Khan is delighted— The 

 Wazir is anxious for my safety— Suspect a conspiracy to frighten me— 

 My servant's condition— Yearning for cooked food— Another unsuccess- 

 ful hunt— A noisy camp— A conllagration in a tight place— Arrange for a 

 hunt near the crest of the range— Try my hand at ibex -curry— Filthy 

 Kashmiri habits— Limited quarters in a goat-shed— Bad weather heats 

 us again— Leave the ground— Mark down three huge bucks— The stalk 

 —Awkward position for a shot— My trophy can be patched up— Hill- 

 crows are pleased— Very familiar and intelligent birds— Their manners 

 and customs— A letter from the Bunji commandant— My supplies are 

 stopped— Ibex shooting comes to au end— Square accounts with Mirza 

 Khan and company. 



Theue was a storm of snow and wind during the night 

 (Gth June), but the four-feet high tent withstood it 

 gallantly. The shikaris and coolies had a bad time of it, 

 as they had no shelter, and were obliged to crouch round 

 a huge fire, for it was very cold. I heard that the 

 khidmatgar, down at the tent on the main stream, was 

 very ill ; large blisters had broken out on his stomach, he 

 had pains in his loins, and his body was swollen. The 

 men said he had been gorging himself with mulberries and 

 a whole leg of miirkhor, sleeping day and night, and not 

 moving an inch from camp all the time ! He had had 

 absolutely no work, and this was the consequence. I sent 

 Ghariba down with five rupees to carry him to the village, 

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