c;S AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



which formed a marshy plateau, over which we used 

 to ride on our way to the " happy valley." The 

 ground was stony and barren, with patches of grass 

 here and there, and no trees were to be seen any- 

 where. One could not imagine a more favourable 

 country for the haunts of the glorious sheep, though 

 our actual camping- ground might have been better 

 chosen. Its altitude, according to my aneroid, was 

 7,800 feet above sea-level. The only fuel we could 

 get was Tezek, dry horsedung, which henceforward 

 was our main resource, and which our Kalmuks 

 used to gather all day and bring back in the large 

 leather bags we had hired at Ongudai. 



We had taken a " yourt " with us, which was placed 

 at poor Vassili's disposal for the kitchen and his 

 cooking utensils. I must own his task was not an 

 easy one, though he never grumbled once, or showed 

 any sign of dissatisfaction. The weather was cloud- 

 less, and towards evening- the thermometer descended 

 below freezing point. That night I slept badly. 

 Visions of sheep kept constantly hovering round 

 me, and I was wide awake when Cristo came into 

 our tent at 3 a.m., as we had decided to start as 

 early as possible on our first field-day, hoping, if 

 fortune favoured, to find and stalk the rams while 

 they were enjoying their morning grass. 



