After Ovis Poli 



with a thick layer, necessitating continual removal to prevent 

 the poles breaking. Yak dung, the only fuel available, is difficult 

 to ignite under such circumstances, but between us, with much 

 blowing and coaxing, we managed to get a fire going, sufficient 

 to prepare the evening meal. 



A change in climatic conditions was now evident, for during 

 the night it blew hard and snow continued to fall with unabated 

 persistency. At dawn the outlook was a dismal one, but never- 



TYPICAL POLI GROUND ON THE PAMIRS. 



theless we started in search of " gulja," as the poli are locally 

 known, the day being bitterly cold with a terrific wind blowing. 

 We rode on yaks, keeping a sharp look-out and had not gone very 

 far up the Kukturuk when we sighted a herd high up on the 

 mountain side to our left. My shikari pulled up his grunting 

 old yak and slipping quietly to the ground whispered " gulja." 

 The herd was a small one some 600 yards off, feeding on the 

 bare slope running down to the water's edge. I took out my 



67 F 2 



