Across the Roof of the World. 



Numgoon counselled an adjcjurnment till the morrow when the 

 herd might be in a better position, so I went back to camj). 

 There were io6 ibex in this herd and amongst them some 45 

 bucks, several of whom carried fine horns. 



I was up there again the next morning, having ascended the 

 ridge lower down the main valley, and found them in the depres- 

 sion to my right. They were only some four hundred yards 

 distant but out on the grass slopes, and at first it did not look as 



TYPICAL IBEX GROUND IN THE A(;iASS VALLEY. 



though I should get close enough for a chance with any hope 

 of success. My i6-power glasses showed four of them to be 

 bumper heads, and it can be imagined with what keenness I 

 awaited the psychological moment. We made a move round 

 by the higher rocks, and there, towards 2 o'clock, found a possible 

 line of advance from above down through the rocks and snow. 

 By sliding full length we were able to get within 200 yards to 



282 



