Across the Roof of th(; World. 



western slopes are covered with fir and pine and bear that dark 

 and sombre aspect one associates with those stately trees. The 

 eastern slopes run up in a succession of grassy ridges, the favourite 

 feeding grounds of the ibex, though the latter are also found on 

 the western side, but in limited numbers. 



The Ibex {Capra sihcrica) is a fine specimen of the goat family, 

 and though he is met with in various parts of the Asiatic continent, 

 none carry horns of such length as those to be found amidst the 

 rock-bound corries of the Thian Shan. Here the ibex wanders in 

 large herds, subsisting on the succulent grass which covers the 

 slopes, an animal ever alert and wary and one possessed of great 

 vitality. The Agiass Valley is a noted haunt of ibex, and its 

 reputation in this respect had made me extremely keen to reach 

 so good a shooting centre. 



From the ground high above the river banks on a fine day 

 a delightful view is obtainable of snow-crowned peaks of the 

 Celestial Mountains, glaciers gleaming in the sunshine, and the 

 lovely Agiass River flowing through a valley carpeted with grass 

 and many coloured flowers, on its way to join the waters of 

 the Tekkes and the mighty Hi. 



The following morning we were able to ford the stream, and 

 continued up the valley for two miles, whence we turned west 

 up a side nullah for a mile and a half, pitching camp amongst 

 a clump of pines. Climatic conditions were indifferent that day, 

 with heavy rain and thick clouds, seeming to indicate a possible 

 spell of bad weather. Sogoon said this place was a good one for 

 ibex, and I mentally hoped it might be, and thus contribute in 

 some degree to reward me for all the time and labour expended in 

 getting here. 



A brief look round in the late afternoon revealed ibex high 

 up on the mountain side in a back ravine, and I trusted they 

 were the first of much game to be encountered. The slopes here 

 were covered with long grass and hemlock, which made the going 

 rather hard, as one constantly slips, more particularly in the 

 morning, when it is damp and saturated from the dew. There 



