Ibex and Ibex Ground 43 



water l from a salt-fringed pool, we had fresh water 

 from the streaming hills, such as in that land one 

 thinks of but does not get. We mounted the 

 ridge. All around, " violet peaks uplifted through 

 the crystal air." One is tempted by such wonder- 

 ful clearness as this to spy ground that is really 

 too distant. We did not, however, lose much 

 time that day. Walking was walking on air, even 

 as in Scotland, and I had such confidence in 

 Rahmat's wonderful sight as to be convinced we 

 should pass nothing by. The morning slipped 

 by and we had not seen a beast worth a stalk. 

 I had indeed picked up one biggish ibex on a far 

 slope with the Zeiss glasses, but the long glass 

 showed him to be a good head only, not the really 

 big one I wanted to finish my trip with. When 

 stalking abroad, where game is so much scarcer 

 than in a Scotch forest, what a grand saver of 

 labour a really big glass is I It can hardly be too 

 big. As for Rahmat, he was constantly seeiog 

 beasts out of the corner of his eye, but so far 

 nothing out of the common. 



1 The shor water of Seistan and Eastern Persia has been well 

 described by Macgregor : " I think I could give a receipt which 

 would taste something like it. Take the first nasty looking water 

 you can find, mix salt with it till you make it taste as nasty as it 

 looks, then impregnate it with gas from a London street lamp, 

 and add a little bilge-water. Shake vigorously, and it is ready 

 for use." Curzon's ' Persia.' 



