An Arduous Climb. 



I started that morning soon after half past five, the road lying 

 through a narrow valley some seventy yards broad, with grass 

 patches and wood jungle here and there. The ground on both 

 sides ran up in a series of grassy slopes, intersected by many 

 side ravines and gullies, whilst beyond the grass it was rocky ,- 

 approximating more to the nature of cliffs. 



Shortly after leaving camp we sighted burhel on the grass 

 slopes of the right bank. They did not seem to be in the 

 least surprised at our sudden appearance, merely contenting 

 themselves with moving slowly off up-hill, halting every 

 now and then to gaze back, probably wondering what strange 

 creatures we could be, for I doubt if they had ever seen 

 much of man before. Higher up we sighted another herd coming 

 down the hill from the right slopes of the valley and which, 

 crossing some distance in front of us, went off up-hill on the 

 opposite side. Both here and in the Hi Su I saw a number 

 of burhel, but high water in the rivers and the possibility 

 of being shut in for the summer did not permit of my tarrying ; 

 indeed as it was we had to trek fast in order to avoid being held 

 prisoners by the rapidly rising water. 



As regards the Hi Su it might repay sportsmen trying this 

 spot for burhel, since it is only a day's march from the Taghdum- 

 bash Valley, and as no one ever shoots there some good trophies- 

 would doubtless be obtained. 



The lli Su is also reputed to hold ibex, but whether they 

 would repay pursuit is another question. Certain it is I saw no' 

 large heads either there or on the Taghdumbash Pamir, though 

 as to whether any frequent those uplands or not I can express no 

 definite opinion. 



At 8 o'clock I halted for a hght breakfast, the while giving the 

 yaks time to forge ahead, for the ground we were then entering, 

 upon was more stony and arduous, and a yak, though very sure^ 

 is at the best of times a slow moving creature. At lo o'clock 

 I left the last patch of grass and wood jungle behind and entered 



97 H 



