Ibex Prospects. 



should there find much game as a reward for the long trek from 

 India. 



The Kazaks as usual displayed an ignorance as crass as 

 it was profound, one of them surpassing his brothers by 

 declaring there were no ibex in the Agiass at all. This, coming 

 on the top of our trials, troubles and adversities, was almost 

 more than one could be reasonably expected to stand, but I said 

 nothing, merely regarding him with looks of pity and contempt. 



I reached the Agiass River the next day, crossing it by a 

 wooden bridge near the point where it emerges from the hills. 

 Later in the year it is possible to ford the river when the current 

 is less strong, but this is not feasible until well on in September, 

 when, the greater part of the snow having melted, the volume is 

 less. On the western side and a mile or more beyond were some 

 auls, and a log hut, recently erected by an enterprising Sart 

 merchant bent on doing business with the tribes in the 

 neighbourhood. Near here I camped, and the following morning 

 sent off Rahim for Kalmuk shikaris, several of whom the local 

 Kazaks informed me lived at Shota, some distance up the valley 

 towards the Muzart Pass. 



Just after camp had been pitched I killed a snake in the 

 long grass, a reptile 15 inches long, and, from what I could 

 gather, poisonous. The grass here was tall and thick, the local 

 people telling me snakes were common at this season of the 

 year. 



At noon the next day a Kazak Beg came to see me, and I 

 arranged with him to supply ox transport, as the path up the 

 Agiass was said to be a nasty one for ponies, which statement 

 by personal experience I found out to be untrue, the valley 

 almost throughout its entire length being practicable for them. 



I devoted part of the afternoon and evening to packing up 

 kit not required on my shooting trips into the mountains, in- 

 tending to store it in the merchant's log hut near by until my 

 departure from the Thian Shan. Whilst thus engaged a Turko- 

 man appeared on horseback and. dismounting, walked up to my 



207 



