i82 AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



an undulating steppe on either side, and presented the 

 aspect of a geographical map for the blind. The 

 higher grounds of the Tchagan-Burgaza were now 

 hardly visible in the distance behind us ; in front rose, 

 a few miles ahead, the range of hills known as the 

 Bain-Khairkhan, which we were so anxious to in- 

 vestigate, whilst to our left ran a series of low table- 

 lands, which I explored later on, and found several 

 rams. These were the Beliou mountains. 



Three hours brought us to the junction of the 

 Boro-Burgassy and Suok rivers, where we pitched 

 camp at noon after a short march of twelve miles. 

 The wind blew furiously, which greatly hindered the 

 erection of our tents. We now found ourselves nearly 

 at the foot of the massive range we intended to 

 inspect on the morrow. 



The valley of the Suok, bordered on the south- 

 west by the Bain-Khairkhan lofty crest, was more a 

 wide, Mat steppe than a valley. The Suok water 

 was clear and promising for Grayling, the current 

 slow, owing to the gentle slope of the ground. It 

 was here that, for the first time, the exceeding dry- 

 ness of the climate showed its effects. The bed-poles 

 broke in twain, and we had much difficulty in finding 

 timber to replace them. Luckily we discovered a 

 small clump of trees, the only one within many miles, 



