A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



16,000 feet, and even higher. Amongst the flowers 

 that I noticed here were auriculas and primulas, 

 myosotis of various sorts, ranunculus, and a plant 

 somewhat resembling a red-rattle (Pedicularis 

 sylvatica), of which latter species there was another 

 sort, bright yellow in colour with crimson spots, and 

 a very long " neck/' This latter plant was to be 

 found on boggy ground near the stream, whilst on 

 the gravel slopes above were the usual aromatic 

 herbs, southern-wood, eurotia, and wild lavender. 

 There were several sorts of butterflies, which Babu 

 Lai pursued with untiring energy, though running 

 after a strong flying insect at an elevation of 

 14,000 feet must have been a trifle exhausting. 

 But, what was of a great deal more importance in 

 my eyes, there were both Burhel and Ovis Ammon 

 in the nalah. To take the latter animal first, as, 

 indeed, would seem his right, being, as he is, king 

 of Thibetan game. 



Ever since I had fired my first shot in the 

 Himalaya and become a victim to the fascination 

 of what I venture to consider as fine a sport as 

 human being can desire, I had dreamt of getting 

 a good Ovis Ammon head ; not, indeed, that I ever 

 expected to do so, as such a stroke of luck seemed 

 beyond the expectations of a humble shooter like 

 myself, but my imagination was fired by quotations 

 like the following from books written by the most 

 experienced sportsmen that ever fired a rifle in 



the Himalaya. Kinloch, in his magnificent work, 



132 



