250 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



help it, but on my second march I was observed by 

 some shepherds, rough-looking people, clad in skins, 

 who scuttled off directly they saw me, and in a short 

 time I saw a procession of about twenty approach 

 with an old patriarchal Malik at their head. To my 

 satisfaction we had quite a friendly interview. I gave 

 him a snuffbox and a knife, and he presented me 

 with a sheep. He told me there were lots of markhor 

 about, that I must put up in his camp, which was not 

 far off (a collection of little huts), and the next day 

 he would give me a guide to show me where to find 

 the goats. 



We were off before dawn the next morning, and 

 after proceeding across several spurs we spied a large 

 corrie, where my shepherd guide made signs we 

 should find game. We sat down and set to work 

 with our glasses. For some time we could see 

 nothing, but when I was beginning to think our first 

 draw a blank, Kamala gave a whistle, and pointed 

 across the corrie ; sure enough, they were there, a 

 good herd, with some nice white-looking ones among 

 them. This meant old bucks. Now to get at them ! 

 They were a long way off, so we dropped down into 

 the corrie without fear of detection, especially as they 

 were feeding. It is when they are lying up that they 

 are difficult to get at, for then they are sure to be on 

 the look-out. Spur after spur we scrambled and 

 crawled over, rough stony debris and loose shale here 

 and there cutting our grass shoes to pieces. These 

 shoes are sandals made of twisted rice-straw rope. 



At last we were right in the middle of the great 



