Wild Sheep in Khorassan 1 69 



juniper tree or a friendly rock. These siestas 

 were, in fact, necessary, as summer nights when 

 out after hill game in the East are most un- 

 pleasantly brief. If one takes advantage of 

 the cool of the evening, camp is not reached 

 before half-past eight, so after a tub and dinner 

 " lights out " can hardly be managed before ten ; 

 while to make the most of the delicious two 

 hours before sunrise, half -past two or three is 

 the latest one can safely allow for reveille. 



It was after a night of this unsatisfying kind 

 that I and a local shikari started in the dark 

 on what proved to be my best day on these 

 hills. We began climbing almost immediately 

 after leaving the camp. I was rather stiff and 

 tired after a long day that had concluded a 

 brief five hours before, and I thought with some 

 resentment of the camp settling down to sleep 

 again after my departure to them, no doubt, 

 a somewhat unpleasant interlude in their night's 

 rest. From a commanding shoulder we watched 

 the stars pale, and the grey, dim outlines of hills 

 and trees turn to colour, and presently spied 

 beasts below us. There was no good ram, how- 

 ever, and we turned again to breast the hill, 

 our objective being a ridge that loomed high 

 in front. A short way on we found tracks of 

 a big ram, and soon after saw him leisurely 



