A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



I did not want a small nyan, but never having 

 seen one before, decided to stalk him, to see what 

 he was like on closer acquaintance. Accordingly 

 we rode up a steep but favourable nalah, and then 

 climbed a low hill. As I cautiously peered over the 

 crest the nyan came up the other side, and we met 

 one another face to face within one hundred yards. 



I did not even put up my rifle, as I had been told 

 that he was a small one, and after an instant's pause 

 he fled down hill and across the valley. The shikaris 

 now said, " Shoot ! he is a good one," but it was 

 too late. I fired at him as he fled, and, am sorry to 

 say, wounded him, as there was blood on his tracks ; 

 but, though he was followed for some twenty miles, 

 nearly down to the Indus, he was never recovered, 

 so that I hope the wound was merely a graze, in 

 fact, this was proved to be the case by the blood 

 track ceasing soon afterwards, and the marks 

 joining those of several ewes, whose company he 

 evidently sought, which he would never have done 

 had he been severely wounded. My feelings can 

 be better imagined than described, as of course, 

 being the first nyan that I had ever seen, I had not 

 known what to expect, and it would have been such 

 an easy shot as we stood face to face ! Nobody is 

 more against shooting an animal with an insignifi- 

 cant head than myself; but I think that perhaps one 

 should always shoot the first beast of any species 

 that one sees, provided, of course, that it is a male, 



as one may never subsequently get a chance, and it 



140 



