i2 4 AFTER WILD SJIEEP IN THE ALTAI 



hoped to come across unmolested herds of old 

 rams on higher ground. But a pass had to be 

 found for the pack-horses, and our Kalmuks either 

 knew nothing" about the country over the frontier, 

 or, if they had been in Chinese territory, which was 

 doubtful, would in no way help us in the matter, 

 fearing" that their horses would be stolen by stray 

 Kirghiz or Mongol nomadic tribes. 



In this uncertainty we decided, Littledale and 

 I, to start together on the following morning", June 

 22nd, towards the head of the Happy Valley, with 

 the intention of seeing for ourselves if an easy pass 

 could be discovered. Before entering the nullah, 

 Littledale branched off to the left, where hills seemed 

 lower and the ground more suitable for our purpose, 

 whilst I was to reconnoitre the head of the Bain- 

 Tchagan valley and see if the pass was as inhos- 

 pitable for unshod hoofs as it appeared to be from 

 a distance. But my exploring designs were soon to 

 be checked by sight of game, for as we approached 

 the well-known buttresses I spied a ram feeding 

 a few hundred yards to our left. YYe quickly dis- 

 mounted, and leaving the horses in a small hollow, 

 made a long detour to get above the animal ; but the 

 wind, as usual, was shifty, and when I found myself 

 within what 1 thought was 1 50 yards of my prey, 



