200 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



on the prickly bush, and after lunch, instead of beating 

 the woods along the foot of the precipices and of the 

 Buster, we went down through the forest to find the 

 tracks of the bouquetin, and see if we could do anything 

 with him. We found the tracks after some trouble 

 and followed them into the rocks, but having left the 

 dogs at home for rest we could do nothing with him, so 

 after Celestin and Michell going down and spying, and 

 us looking from above, we determined to leave him till 

 to-morrow. The rain came on. Arrived at the cabane 

 about 6.30. 



Thursday, i^th April 1881. Left the dear old 

 valley to-day for Bucharo ; just fifteen days in it. 

 Bag three bouquetin and one bear. 



VALLEE D' ARRAS, 

 2,otk May 1 88 1. 



Packed our traps for the Vallee d'Arras, and started 

 about 8.30 (the men having started about seven) to make 

 the low beat on Escusan, a long belt of beech wood 

 along the Gave and below the bottom precipices. On 

 my way to my post (in the great couloir which comes 

 down from Escusan) I met Michell, who was on his way 

 to see if the large bear, of which the men had got the 

 tracks quite fresh in the snow, had passed the snow on 

 his way to the bears' wood, as otherwise he would be in 

 the high fir wood on the side of Escusan above the 

 precipices. I was afraid I was rather late in going to 

 the post, but he said not, so on I went, carrying my 

 gourd which leaks in my hand. I was much puzzled, 

 on arriving at the couloir, to know where to place my- 

 self. Beyond the couloir is a very thick band of wood 

 running from the precipices to the Gave, a distance of 

 about 300 yards, the wood beyond this strip being cut ; 

 the couloir itself is broad, rocky, and much broken, the 



