CHAPTER VIII. 



WAPITI AND IBEX 



THE other two said they would go up to Yulduz by 

 a short cut, try for the sheep there, and then come 

 back by the Naret Pass and Kunges Valley ; but 

 this idea they afterwards gave up as being too cold 

 a job for November, and went to Jilgalong for roe 

 deer instead. 



On the last day of October I started, taking, of 

 course, only a small tent, and travelling as light as 

 possible, the Koksu roads being said to be very 

 bad. 



An easy day's ride took us to the entrance of 

 Koksu, a deep and imposing gorge, into which we 

 descended next morning, fording the Koksu River, 

 and then turning up the valley on a pretty rough 

 path, an earnest of worse to follow. Before mid- 

 day I was met by the head Kalmak of Koksu, a 

 very nice old fellow, who had an aiil ready pitched 

 for me, and advised me to stay there for the night, 

 saying that the road in front was for a long way 

 very bad, and that there was not time enough left 

 to reach a good camping-ground. Next day the 



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