A FRESH LOT OF PONIES 



225 



the sight of favourable grounds. We started early 

 next morning, Littledale and myself, at 4 a.m., in 

 different directions ; but our guide's words were to be 

 realised. I ascended the stony slopes of a small 

 nullah, and spied miles of country around me without 



JACOB, THE DEMITCHA, IN THE BASHKAOUS VALLEY. 



finding a single animal of any kind ; then, crossing 

 another dividing ridge, I met with a similar result in 

 the next valley, and so on till I finally returned to 

 camp thoroughly disheartened. Here we found 

 twenty-five fresh ponies awaiting us. Before entering 

 the Kobdo valley we had despatched a couple of our 

 Kalmuks back towards the frontier, in order to meet 

 Q 



