A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



observed us, and, jumping the torrent here a fairly 

 broad stream climbed up the rocks on the 

 opposite side, continually looking back. The 

 shikaris said that they must have been pursued 

 by a snow-leopard to come down so low at this 

 season, and, sure enough, we found his fresh tracks, 

 but no glimpse of the wily beast did we obtain. 

 Though far from rare, this beautiful animal (Felis 

 undo] is seldom seen, and still more seldom shot 

 by Europeans, owing to his nocturnal habits and 

 extreme wariness. Their tracks are common in 

 places, and their presence often spoils sport in a 

 nalah, not only from their frightening away the 

 game, but also from the fact that where the snow- 

 leopard is there the animals will be much more 

 on the alert than usual. At last a new bridge 

 was completed, having been constructed under 

 Salia's directions with a couple of tree-trunks and 

 my spare rope. The chief difficulty had been to 



get a good founda- 

 tion on either side, as 

 the flood was tremen- 

 dous and the boulders 

 were being rolled 

 down the narrow 

 ravine with a noise 

 like thunder. The 

 path having been 



washed away we had some very nasty rock- 

 climbing, and in one place had to be let down, 



9 s 



'AT LAST A NEW BRIDGE 

 WAS COMPLETED." 



