A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



side where we hoped that the latter would come 

 out to feed towards evening. In the meantime, 

 however, wind and dust storms arose, and thunder 

 rolled amongst the peaks, a rare occurrence in these 

 regions. We did not see any ibex until it was getting 

 dark, and then there were no heads big enough 

 to tempt me, so we left them alone. The descent 

 of the mountain on the following morning was an 

 exciting one, as the way led us down sheer rocks 

 and precipices where a slip or false step would have 

 hurled us into oblivion ; but after some hours of this 

 sort of work, followed by a scramble down slopes 

 of shingle, we eventually reached the Chorbat 

 stream, only to find that a bridge was washed 

 away, and we had to go some two miles lower 

 down before we could cross. At last, somewhat 

 weary, we reached the place where we had told the 

 remainder of the party to encamp and await our 

 coming, but alas ! instead of a comfortable camp, 

 nought was to be seen but the ashes of the previous 

 night's fires, and there was nothing for it but to 

 continue our way, not rejoicing ! 



However, we found the camp pitched some few 

 miles farther up the valley, and the comforts of a 

 big tent, hot tub, table and chair, soon revived one. 

 That night it rained in torrents and blew a 

 hurricane ; they told me that two men held on to 

 my tent-poles all night ; but I slept through it all ! 

 The next morning we started in thick mist and 

 cloud for the Pass. After some miles over rolling 



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