Across the Roof of the World. 



powerful telescopic binoculars and scanned them carefully but 

 could not make out any shootable heads. They kept well on 

 the alert and constantly looked about as if fearing some danger, 

 giving me ample opportunity to study their shape and curved 

 horns which impart to them such a noble appearance. 



Ovis poll is the blue ribbon of mountain shikar, a good pair 

 of horns attaining a length of 60 inches and upwards, the record 

 head being 75 inches, now in the possession of Earl Roberts. 



I then tried the ground towards the Wakhijrui but finding 

 nothing, and the wind by this time assuming the proportions 

 of a hurricane, retired on the camp about 3 o'clock, not too well 

 satisfied with the first day after poli. 



I had had the camp pitched at the junction of the Kukturuk 

 and Wakhijrui nullahs, reputed the best on the Pamirs, which 

 is not, however, saying much. During the night it snowed 

 Iiard, and though this ceased by 8 o'clock the next morning, 

 the same terrific wind was still in full swing. I tried the 

 Kukturuk again, and, coming across the tracks of a herd, 

 followed them for some distance in the direction of the 

 Balderling nullah. It was very heavy going through deep snow, 

 but the yaks we rode tackled it as if to the manner born, 

 though puffing and grunting vigorously. From the crest line 

 above the left bank of the Kukturuk we tracked the poli by their 

 footmarks in the snow, and kept to the trail till a blinding snow- 

 storm put a stop to further operations, and forced us back to 

 camp. 



The next day was notable only for the amount of snow that 

 fell, and the increased strength of the wind which at times 

 almost threatened to carry our " khirgas " away. During the 

 afternoon the wind dropped considerably, but the cold was intense, 

 and a heavy snowstorm was in progress. It was impossible to 

 go out in such weather, so I remained within my tent, for the 

 large yurt I had brought down from Tagerman Su was full of 

 holes, and consequently so draughty that I deemed a canvas 

 shelter preferable to living beneath an enlarged sieve. 



68 



