A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



southern hills, and soon afterwards an excited Balti, 

 who had been sent higher up the valley with Ullia, 

 came running back and reported 

 having seen a herd of twenty-two 

 bucks. As it was just sunset, we 

 determined to leave them for the 

 present, and to pursue them early 

 the following morning. We de- 

 cided that we would then first turn 

 our attention to the herd, in the 

 hope that the three large ones 

 would reappear the following 

 evening, on the ^ same ground 

 where we had espied them. At 

 2 A.M. I was called, made a hasty meal, and soon 

 afterwards set off up the stony bed of the river by 

 moonlight. The moraine and rocks at the foot of 

 the glacier were fearful going ; however, we toiled 

 onwards for some hours. I noticed a snow bridge, 

 which was quite the most perfect that I have ever 

 seen, and formed a graceful and glittering white arch 

 over the torrent below ; it was formed by the junction 

 of two avalanches which had come down opposite 

 slopes, and was therefore different in shape to the 

 ordinary bridge formed by one snow slope under- 

 mined by a stream. After a bit we turned up the 

 rocks on our right, and climbed a " chimney," or 

 angle. I began to feel very much done, as we were at 

 a considerable height, but was revived on looking 

 over a ridge by seeing a herd of large ibex feeding 



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