i 4 o AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



stream in a south-easterly direction. I rode in front 

 with the ladies, whilst Littledale stayed behind in 

 order to see that the pack-ponies were not led back 

 to Kosh-Agatch and home, as our Kalmuks so 

 eagerly desired. As we advanced in slow procession, 

 the hills seemed to become lower, excepting due 

 south of us, where the Happy Valley, parallel 

 to which we were now going, was concealed from 

 view by the towering ridges and peaks on either 

 side of it. Around us were low, grassy, rolling 

 boulders, with small ordinary ravines, probably the 

 winter resorts of sheep ; for, though we saw none, 

 many skulls and horns strewed the ground on our 

 way. The slopes were covered with lovely spring- 

 flowers, such as crocuses, buttercups, and Edelweiss. 

 Towards 1 1 a.m. we were caught in a hailstorm 

 which lasted an hour, and eventually turned into 

 rain. As we were entirely ignorant of our way, I 

 halted with the ladies at a place where someone 

 had evidently camped, in order to wait for Littledale 

 and the rest of our caravan. Taba presently galloped 

 up, and explained to us that he had spent a fortnight 

 the year before on this very spot with Major Cumber- 

 land ; he also gave us the good news that the pack- 

 ponies were following up at a short distance. Towards 

 noon we were in sight of the dividing pass at the 



