2 9 o AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



them as fast as our ponies could carry us, and I 

 succeeded in securing a couple after half an hour's 

 breathless ride. It was a curious sight to see these 

 small animals tearing along the plain, while the faster 

 they went the nearer we were able to approach them. 

 Littledale brought in two others, which made a fair 

 bag for the day. 



On August 15th, at noon, we were at Kosh-Agatch. 

 Here we were met by our friend the Zaissan, who 

 greeted our return with signs of joy. We proceeded 

 to take photographs of our bag, which consisted of 

 the heads of thirty-two Wild Sheep, two Ibex, and five 

 Antelope. We found a new Russian Customs official, 

 who was most civil to us, and greatly assisted us in 

 the preparations for our next journey to the Maral 

 country. The whole of the following day was de- 

 voted to packing our trophies, which were carefully 

 wrapped up in felt, leaving the smaller heads, which 

 were not worth taking, and sending off the larger 

 ones straight to Ongoudai. Daniel was instructed 

 to accompany them to their destination. W T e found 

 twelve ponies not too many for the purpose, and saw 

 them start well loaded the following morning. We 

 spent the afternoon in settling accounts with the 

 Zaissan for the ponies and men, and decided as soon 

 as possible to go after Maral. According to the 



