308 AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



ground, indeed, seemed suitable for them ; westwards 

 of us ran a range of snowclad hills, whilst on all 

 other sides the low, undulating country was covered 

 with fir woods and great stretches of reddish brush- 

 wood. Towards evening, clouds still hung on the 

 sides of the higher mountains, but the rain had 

 stopped. As it snowed the whole of the following 

 morning, it was not until after luncheon that we could 

 get out in search of game. On that day I saw 

 nothing but a Capercaillie. I found tracks of Deer, 

 however, and occasionally noticed signs of Maral 

 Stags on small trees, which were stripped of their 

 bark, but no fresh ones. Littledale had succeeded 

 in stalking a couple of Roe, and had shot the doe by 

 mistake, unable to make out the horns amidst the 

 thick branches. Another attempt next day proved 

 as unsuccessful as the previous ones. Taba had 

 suggested that we might find game in the direction 

 of the higher ground westwards, towards which we 

 now directed our course. Owing to Mrs. Littledale's 

 bad state of health, my companion remained to look 

 after her. As for me, I scrambled half-way up the 

 steep slopes of the western mountain range, where 

 the only living creatures I saw during the whole day 

 were a female Ibex with a kid. I returned to camp 

 at 2 p.m., thoroughly sick of this God-forsaken 



