V/El^ OF THE GILGIT VALLEY 



our right and lower down the river. These were just 

 under the crest of the spur which runs downwards to the 

 point where the Gilgit river falls into the Indus. 



After some time one markhor was seen a very 

 long way off, and as it was practically certain he would not 

 be alone, we concluded that his companions must be near 

 him amongst the rocks, and at once made towards the 

 crest. For a time we were able to follow the regular path 

 used by the Baltis, who now repair annually to Gilgit for 

 work, but soon we left this and struck up the mountain. 

 It was about 1 1 a.m. when we reached the summit, 

 so we had breakfast under some rocks there. 



As I sat facing north-west, I could see the Gilgit 

 river come winding through a flat and moderately wide 

 valley, the upper end of which was relieved by the large 

 green oasis of Gilgit itself. Beyond was a dark wall of 

 mountains with the summits crowned with snow. On the 

 left bank of the river I could see the opening in the line 

 of hills, through which ascends the road to Hunza and 

 Nagar and the Pamirs beyond. Immediately below me 

 to the left, but on the far or right bank of the Gilgit river, 

 a dark thread-like line, approximately level, showed where 

 the Gilgit- Srinagar road lay. I could see where it 

 descended to the Indus and crossed by the small sus- 

 pension bridge, and then passed over the level sands of 

 the left bank to Bunji, some distance behind me. 



After breakfast we decided to search the face of the 

 precipitous mass of rocks that lay below us, on the off 

 chance of being able to detect the markhor, who were 

 pretty sure to be lying down somewhere about. A small 

 spur, which jutted out a litde below and at right angles 



