2o8 AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



On the following morning, July 1 6th, wo started 

 at 7 a.m. up the Kobdo River again, leaving the 

 Tchagan-Kol behind us. The water in the Kobdo 

 was now perfectly clear, and looked promising for 

 Grayling. Along the river banks the vegetation was 

 rich and beautiful. We passed through sunny glades, 

 amongst shady groves of pine and willow. The 

 grass was tall and wonderfully green, whilst flowers 

 of every description and colour completed the smiling 

 picture. It was a pleasant change to us, as we 

 followed gaily the windings of the stream, and en- 

 joyed the verdure of this oasis. The hills on either 

 side were mostly barren, with occasional small larch 

 woods, their altitude not exceeding 8,000 feet. At 

 1 p.m. we reached a small meadow on the very banks 

 of the river, and decided to halt there for the night, 

 after having covered a distance of about twenty miles. 

 Our pack - ponies had picked up a little during this 

 comparatively easy march over soft grass, and it was 

 a welcome sight to watch them come in one after the 

 other, neighing joyfully as they were being unloaded, 

 and rolling on the ground in wild contentment. In 

 the afternoon we went out fishing, my wife, Littledale, 

 and myself. This was not merely for amusement, 

 but to supply food for our men, who possessed no 

 more sheep, and were in a constant state of ferment. 



