THE TARKHATY RIVER 275 



the big ram I had wounded. Though I came across 

 several herds, we were doomed to be discovered 

 every time we attempted to approach them, and on 

 reaching a high ridge where we expected to find 

 Ibex, we came across several rams amongst the most 

 broken ground I had as yet seen ; the heat of the 

 day had probably caused them to intrude upon the 

 Ibex. None of them I thought were worth shooting. 

 In order to get a full command of the surrounding 

 country, Taba and I made the ascent of the highest 

 peak in the district, and discovered about a mile 

 below us, lying on a grassy cul-de-sac, six very fine 

 old rams, perhaps the finest I had seen. They were 

 lying close to each other, all resting their heads on 

 the ground, probably tired of the weight nature had 

 imposed upon them to carry. We waited till 5 p.m.. 

 hoping that they might get up and feed towards us, 

 but seeing that they had no intention of doing so, 

 we started back for camp, leaving the herd un- 

 disturbed, and hoping to find them again another 

 day. As for my wounded one, there were no signs 

 of him. It was pitch dark before we got to the tents. 

 Littledale was back with two good heads. 



Next day we shifted camp down the Tarkhaty 

 River, passing our friend Abduldho's Kirghiz encamp- 

 ment, but omitting to call upon him for fear of 



