A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



marched to Baltal (ten miles), the aforesaid group of 

 huts at the foot of the Zogi Pass. Salia said that 

 here, though it is so accessible from Srinagar, ibex 

 might often be seen, or at any rate red bear, in a - 

 valley that runs to the east, towards the sacred 

 caves of Amarnath, so we decided to halt for a day 

 while B. pursued them. The evening of the day 

 we arrived he wounded, but did not get, a red bear. 

 Whilst following its tracks the next morning he lost 

 the bear and I very nearly lost my shikari ! It 

 appears that the party were crossing a steep snow- 

 slope, cutting steps as they went, when Salia missed 

 his footing and started off down the incline. Unable 

 to stop himself he 

 went faster and faster 

 and just as it seemed 

 that he must inevi- 

 tably be dashed to 

 pieces on the rocks 

 below, was provi- 

 dentially stopped by 

 a birch tree which 

 was proj ec t i ng 

 above the snow. 

 (When an accident 

 of this sort occurs 

 to a sure-footed na- 

 tive, one cannot 

 help thinking that it 

 might easily happen 



AT THE FOOT OF THE ZOGI-LA RAVINE, 

 NEAR BALTAL. 



II 



