SPORT IN THE TEKKES : WAPITI 63 



Indian ones. When we flushed any by the road- 

 side we dismounted and went after them, and in 

 this way made quite a respectable bag without any 

 special search for game, but a good wide-ranging 

 setter would be simply invaluable here. 



We were accompanied by an escort of four 

 Kalmak soldiers, whom the commandant at Shatta 

 insisted on sending with us, saying that the district 

 was full of horse-thieves and other bad characters, 

 who found refuge in the hills. This is so, most of 

 them coming from the Russian side ; they were 

 unlikely to interfere much with us, as, apart from the 

 strength of our caravan, the authorities were likely 

 to take the matter up seriously if anything happened 

 to us ; so the theft of our ponies by night was all 

 that was tried on us. But native traders are not 

 so secure, and robbery and murder are not un- 

 common. A horse-thief is shot on sight if found. 

 At Akjas, where there are a considerable number 

 of aiils, the chief Kirghiz of the district, who lives 

 here, placed two alils at our disposal and presented 

 us with sheep, in return for which we made him a 

 suitable present on our departure next day. 



Travelling as we were, being, according to the 

 Chinese phrase, guests of the country, sheep are 

 presented to one everywhere in the Tekkes, 

 while one can always have the use of as many 

 ponies and men to take care of them as one 

 may happen to require. For all this no pay 



