CHAPTER XI. 

 To THE Happy Hunting Grounds of the Thian Shan. 



I could gain no information in the Great Yulduz Valley on the 

 subject of shikar, as none of the Kalmuks were aware of the 

 existence of wild sheep on the plains or the hills bordering 

 thereon. There were said to be some in the ranges by the Naret 

 Pass and near the headwaters of the Kok Su, but at this season 

 of the year, owing to high water in the streams, it was impossible 

 to get there — at any rate from the eastern side. 



I had hoped to find sheep of the Ovis karelini variety 

 amongst the hills to the north of the Great Yulduz, but despite 

 exhaustive enquiries failed to glean any information, nor did 

 I notice signs of sheep during the few days spent there. All 

 agreed that the Tekkes was the noted hunting ground, so as no 

 prospect of sport presented itself in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of the Yulduz I determined to reach the Tekkes as soon 

 as possible. 



I therefore arranged for the ponies to follow, and leaving 

 Rahim to take charge, bade farewell to the Khan's camp. It 

 was a quarter past eleven when I rode off, accompanied by 

 the Kalmuk guide, down the valley, here about two miles wide, 

 and shut in by low rounded hills, treeless and grass-covered, 

 and fine grazing grounds for the nomads herds. I had to ford 

 the same river on the way back, a task in broad daylight shorn 

 of part of its dangers. 



I reached the Kazak aul in the afternoon, the one from 

 where I had commandeered fresh horses the day before, and 

 halting to change mounts took over those left here on the 

 outward journey. The only occupants of the aul were the 



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