246 SPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF KASHMIR chap. 



reasonable pace going up and down the hillsides, but 

 approaching each crest with caution. The Ladak man, 

 Rupsang, was specially careful, going slowly on tiptoe to 

 the edge of each rise, pausing repeatedly while going up, 

 and often standing for quite a minute at a time resting 

 on one foot, with the toe only of the other touching the 

 ground. The Kashmiri I had repeatedly to check, as 

 his impatience was constantly taking him on too fast. 

 About eleven o'clock we stopped for breakfast, having seen 

 nothing but a few kyang ^ or wild asses, and some eight or 

 ten hares. The former were a great nuisance, as re- 

 peatedly one or both shikaris would detect something on 

 a distant hillside, and would at once sit down and bring 

 their glasses to bear, getting up next moment with 

 a disgusted expression of countenance, and muttering 

 "kyang" in a tone of much contempt. After breakfast 

 we rested for about an hour, and though there was no 

 shade the wind kept us cool. 



Then we went on, up the Pogmore La, which is at 

 the head of the nala, and must be nearly 18,000 feet 

 high, as it is well above the snow-line, and not much 

 below the Rukchen Peak, some 6 miles to the 

 north. Seeing nothing we turned back along the 

 southern slopes of the nala, searching carefully as we 

 went. The ground was so bare that I do not think 

 anything could have escaped observation, especially as 

 Abdulla's eyesight was exceptionally keen. When about 

 half-way back we came across a herd of five kyang on 

 the opposite side of a small ravine. They stood and 

 looked at us from about 1 50 yards, so as I wanted a 



1 Asiims kyang. 



