"KOTCHKOR" AND "ARKHAR" 95 



to the pack-ponies, at other times descending to the 

 very bottom of the valley. As we came to higher 

 ground we found the slopes covered with fine grass, 

 resembling Alpine pastures, and fauna similar to that 

 of the Alps, as far as I could judge. Here also 

 we came across horns and skulls of Wild Sheep 

 scattered about on the bed of the stream. Some 

 of them measured well, and made our hearts leap 

 as we entered at last the Ovis country. In fact, 

 Taba seemed to assure us that we would see a herd 

 or two on the slopes before evening. Towards 3 p.m. 

 we caught sight with our glasses of some specks just 

 below a high ridge on the opposite side. We made 

 them out to be ewes and young sheep quietly 

 grazing. There was an unusual movement among 

 the Kalmuks, who began pointing at the herd, and 

 the words Kotchkor and Arkhar predominated in 

 their lively conversation. As we came nearer the 

 light grey specks became more conspicuous. They 

 soon discovered our caravan ; all the heads were up 

 in a second, and a moment after the whole herd 

 trotted over the ridge. Unlike their Sardinian kins- 

 men, the ewes carried horns from ten to twelve 

 inches long, and their bodies were of course much 

 larger. We were very anxious to see the rams, but 

 unfortunately no other animals came in sight that day. 



