Conflicting Opinions. 



under some pines, and was obliged to sleep in mosquito curtains 

 as the insects were very numerous and trying. 



This portion of the Thian Shan forms the eastern confines of the 

 Jirgalan Valley and is said to hold wapiti, but it could hardly be 

 so at this season since the ground had been stamped flat by herds 

 of horses and cattle belonging to the Kazaks. M\^ plan was 

 therefore to move on to the Agiass Valley on the northern side 

 of the Tekkes, and indulge in some ibex shooting before entering 



KAZAK WOMEN AND " AUL." 



for the wapiti stakes during the month of September, the best 

 time. I could not find a single Kazak who could give any definite 

 idea as to the distance to the Tekkes, opinions varying consider- 

 ably and no one being able to tell the same story, which is after 

 all very characteristic of the Oriental. 



195 o 2 



