Wild Sheep in the Thian Shan. 



tore halted the ponies down in the ravine, and, taking Numgoon, 

 started out to stalk them. The ground was steep but the whole 

 of it being grass-covered was good going and in no way difficult 

 or dangerous. I was able to approach under cover of a small 

 side gully running down at right angles to the ravine, thence 

 crept up under the lee of some rocks, beyond which the sheep were 

 feeding. They seemed inclined to work down in our direction, so 

 I held on and they gradually drew to within 150 yards of 

 me. I selected the biggest and gave him a shot, from the effects 

 of which he stumbled forward on his face, but recovering himself 

 went on after the others who had fled up hill. Some thirty 

 yards further on he halted, and another shot brought him rolling 

 down hill almost to the horses waiting in the ravine. The horns 

 taped 40I- inches, but whether they were good ones I could not 

 determine. Whilst Numgoon and I were busy taking off the head 

 and skin, the baggage ponies went on, and camp was established 

 higher up in the old place, whence I intended to trek again next 

 day into Kok Terek. 



The morning of the 20th dawned dull and stormy, with 

 snow and a nasty wind, unfavourable weather for cross- 

 ing the pass, which, however, was not a difficult one. It 

 was snowing hard as we left, so taking some wood, and, 

 halting higher up at the place where I had previously spent 

 two days ibex shooting, lighted a fire to warm ourselves whilst 

 loading up some heads which had been left behind there. The 

 wind was now very strong and keen, and this, coupled with the 

 driving snow, was not at all to the hking of a Kazak I had as 

 attendant to the horses. He continually bewailed his hard lot, 

 saying he would die in such weather, and spent most of his time 

 on the way to the summit invoking the aid of Allah. The descent 

 was steep and through knee-deep snow, soft and powdery, but 

 offering no serious difficulties to the ponies, who were accustomed 

 to work in these altitudes, especially in winter when the nomads 

 move to the valleys for the pasturage with their flocks. 



I went ahead with Numgoon to select a place for the camp 

 247 



