Two Red Bears. 



It was, of course, covered with snow, even in May, and quite 

 impassable to any but pedestrian traffic. 



The pass takes its name from the Payik River, which does 

 not, however, rise in the neighbourhood, but a long way to the 

 westward. The valley below the pass is broad and grassy, of an 

 average width of about 250 yards, the sides sloping away gently, and 

 covered with gravel and rock as in the nullahs to the east. Behind 

 camp was a nullah leading off from the left bank, the higher part 

 opening out into a wide and grass-covered basin, but though we 

 searched all this ground very thoroughly did not come across 

 anything, nor did we see signs of poli. On the way back I noticed 

 some good heads of ibex rotting in the bed of the stream, one or 

 two of the horns running to 50 inches. My shikari informed me 

 many large heads of ibex were once found in the Payik nullah, 

 but that the wolves had committed sad havoc and very few were 

 now to be encountered. I went out the following morning up 

 the valley to the west, but did not sight any poh having heads 

 of a shootable size. 



Higher up in a side ravine to the north two red bears 

 were busy feeding on the short grass, but though I made great 

 efforts to bag them they had other views and gave me no chance. 

 This bear {Ursus isabellinus) is also found in the mountains 

 and valleys along the higher ground throughout the Himalayas 

 and the ranges contiguous thereto. Its habits approximate to 

 those of the black bear, with the exception that it is found at 

 greater altitudes. The fur is of a reddish colour and in the 

 autumn, when the bears are in good condition, form line 

 trophies. 



All the bear tribe possess wonderful powers of scent and are able 

 to detect the presence of danger at considerable distances. On the 

 occasion in question the two I attempted to stalk were unusually 

 wary, and the openness of the ground, coupled with the shifty 

 nature of the wind, rendered all my efforts ineffectual. 



I then tried the ground towards the head of the nullah for poli, 

 searching all the slopes thoroughly without seeing any, so late 



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