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CHAPTER IX. 



THE mountains on both sides of the Furriabadee river, and 

 around its sources, were at that time considered about the 

 best of ibex grounds, and probably they are so still, for there 

 are sanctuaries among them to which the ibex can betake 

 themselves, and where no human foot can follow. 



The Furriabadee, which drains the snow-fields and numer- 

 ous glaciers about its sources in Sooroo, joins the Wurdwan 

 river at Marroo, whence we now directed our steps up its 

 magnificently wild valley. After proceeding about seven 

 miles, we pitched our camp beside a fine hot spring, in which 

 I enjoyed the luxury of a warm bath. From the semi- 

 civilised evidences about this wild romantic spot, I judged it 

 must have been considered a sort of Leukerbad by the good 

 people of Marroo ; for over the stone tank of steaming 

 warm water, there was a construction of neatly-squared logs, 

 with an upper half-open storey, where the invalid bather 

 could rest after the bath, and enjoy the grand prospect and 

 salubrious mountain air without feeling the cold. In fact, 

 Ramzan informed me that such was the intention. 



Although not an invalid, the refreshing effect of a warm 

 bath certainly made me feel more fit to climb the steep 

 hill-side next morning. After a long ascent, however, I 

 was not sorry to sit down and search the ground with the 

 spying-glass, when we soon discovered a herd of ibex about 

 a mile off, and far above us. None of the animals were 

 very big old bucks, but as some of them carried fairly good 



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