Across the Roof of the World. 



thoroughly cleansed of flesh, should be well rubbed with this 

 simple preparation. Personally, all my masks were dealt with 

 in this way and I found it highly satisfactory. 



The weather cleared up on the morning of the 15th, so I started 

 off with Nurah and Numgoon to the grassy slopes above. Higher 

 up we came on a herd numbering some thirty ibex, of which two 

 were sure 50 inchers. We were on the southern side of two 

 parallel ridges, the ground between being open and sloping gradu- 

 ally to a tiny stream formed from the melting snow accumu- 

 lated amongst the rocks higher up. The ibex were on the 

 northern side and some 300 yards to our front, but as the wind 

 was in the wrong direction they very soon got it and started to 

 move off up hill keeping along the rocky slopes on the north- 

 western side, and making for the crest line far above. Our only 

 possible line of advance was by the southern side, on a parallel 

 course with the herd, which, though the valley was several hundred 

 yards in width, was not far enough removed from their view to 

 enable us to proceed with safety. However, there was no way 

 out of the difficulty so letting them get well ahead, and keeping 

 under cover of a rise in the ground we presently took up the 

 pursuit. 



When the herd had gone up some hundreds of feet they crossed 

 an intervening range and disappeared from sight. This was our 

 chance, so hastening to their side of the ravine we followed them 

 up through the rocks and snow, a most tremendous chmb, 

 as the rocks and boulders with which the whole place was strewn 

 were of gigantic size, while the quantity of loose snow made the 

 going all the more difficult since one constantly disappeared 

 through crevices and holes between the rocks. 



When we reached the top of the ridge the ibex were lying down 

 on the far side, near the skyline, so we sat still for two hours waiting 

 for them to get up and give me the chance of a shot. The weather 

 was bitterly cold, freezing hard, and during the wait my boots 

 froze as sohd as a brick, so I was obliged to take them off and 

 wrap my putties round both feet, after Numgoon and Nurah 



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