Across the Roof of the World. 



seemed favourable, so I much regretted time would not permit 

 of a few days in their pursuit. Doubtless some iine heads could 

 be secured there since no Europeans ever pass that way, and 

 the country being almost undisturbed, must surely be a happy 

 hunting ground for the particular game it contains. Whilst in 

 camp the following day a Kirghiz shikari came in with a 25|-inch 

 burhel head, offering to show me a part of the valley containing 

 others of a similar nature. Unfortunately I could not avail 

 myself of the opportunity, for the rapidly rising water in the 

 ravines meant our being shut in if we did not trek fast. 



It took a further three hours to reach the yurt, where Piro 

 greeted me with a good supper, a pleasing close to another hard 

 day in the mountains. 



The next morning I despatched a few Kirghiz back to the 

 pass with the object of endeavouring, if possible, to retrieve 

 further articles, but they returned in the evening having found 

 nothing beyond a few cartridges and some odds and ends. I 

 spent the day in camp drying everything, overhauling the kit, 

 and generally preparing for the march down the Kulan Urgu 

 Valley. The Kirghiz said the latter would prove hazardous 

 in the extreme owing to the rise in the river and the terrific 

 current resulting therefrom. 



Before leaving I paraded the Kirghiz and others who had 

 assisted me on the pass, paying them handsomely, and also 

 discharged the men who had accompanied me from the Hi Su. The 

 owner of the ill-fated yak, who did not apparently expect to receive 

 any compensation for the loss of his defunct steed, was most 

 agreeably surprised when I presented him with the price of a 

 new one, as well as his hire for the time he had been with me. 



The Beg came some distance down the valley and piloted us 

 through the first of the fords. As I have already indicated, at 

 this season of the year the volume of water in the streams is very 

 great owing to the melting snow, and fording them is attended 

 by the gravest danger, so much so that at this period it is 

 often attended with fatal results, men and horses being swept 



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