SHEEP-HUNTING 187 



like all other animals, and will run great risks to get 

 a lick of salt every now and then ; they will also 

 come down to feed occasionally on little plains and 

 parks at the foot of the mountains. 



I have shot many, many sheep at one spot close 

 to the margin of a shallow brackish pond. Finding 

 that they generally came down about eight or nine 

 o'clock in the morning, I used to get there about 

 seven, and sit down and wait patiently for them. 

 I have seen them over and over again descend the 

 mountain, skylarking among themselves, galloping 

 down a few hundred yards and then stopping and 

 looking out carefully all over the country. Finally 

 they would descend to the pond, and, after some 

 hesitation and a great deal of caution, would walk 

 boldly out on the plain, and begin to lick the alkali 

 and browse a little on the grass. 



They would stop down sometimes an hour or 

 two if undisturbed, and I have often watched 

 them simply to see what they would do. After a 

 time they would scamper off again, butting each 

 other with their heads in sport, and at last would 

 clamber up the mountain-side and disappear. The 

 great thing in sheep-hunting is to get above them ; 

 it is no use whatever trying to stalk a big ram by 

 endeavouring to get up to him from underneath. 



