n the Teeth of a Gale. 



while there was less snow on the ground. I set out next day in a 

 ■ blinding snowstorm and a hurricane blowing great guns, my shikari 

 going ahead to survey the ground and note if any poli were 

 about. The deep snow and terrific wind made progress slow, 

 and one's temper short in proportion, whilst even the stolid 

 yaks must have thought it a poor game struggling along in the 

 teeth of a gale and half buried in snow. 



WHERE THREE EMPIRES MEET. 



There was nothing shootable in the Tagerman Su nullah, so I 

 determined to trek on to the Payik, some 40 miles down the 

 Karachukar Valley on the way to the Taghdumbash River. Three 

 marches took us there, none of them very long but just too much 

 to be done in two days. On the second day I camped at some 

 Kirghiz tents, at the mouth of the Sara Jilga nullah, the head 

 man of which placed a " khirga " at my disposal, presenting me 

 with sheep, cream, and other edibles, and doing his best to be 



75 



