576 DZUNGARIA 



maintained that the other was at fault. However, Pereira 

 was not going to risk the culprit escaping, so he gave both 

 a mild beating. 



We now moved slowly up the Urta Saryk in search 

 of ibex. In its central portion, this valley is a rough, 

 precipitous gorge, with a roaring torrent, full of boulders 

 and deep holes, rushing down it. On the south side a 

 heavy forest and on the north bare cliffs rise from the 

 very edge of the water. Here and there on the left 

 bank, between the foot of the cliffs and the river, are 

 narrow fiats, covered with timber and grass, which make 

 ideal camping-grounds. Leaving Carruthers encamped 

 in one of these places, with several likely ibex-nullahs 

 round it, I proceeded up-stream with two men and a pack- 

 horse to explore the valley to its head. Sometimes we 

 were scrambling along the hillside, and at others pushing 

 our way through the tangled growth by the river. We 

 " jumped " several roe-deer, and crossed some bear and 

 wapiti tracks. After we had passed a delightful little 

 waterfall, which hurled itself from the cliffs 200 ft. 

 above, straight into the river beneath, we found the 

 timber thinning, till only juniper and a club-shaped, 

 cactus-like plant covered the slopes. 



Towards its head the valley widened considerably, 

 and formed a grassy fiat. Here we spent a night at a 

 native winter camping-ground ; which must be a cold, 

 bleak spot at that season ; and for this very reason the 

 snow would not lie deep, thus enabling the flocks to get 

 at the abundant grass. 



The actual head of the valley is composed of small 

 glaciers and moraines. Among this wilderness we came 

 upon five ibex, none with horns of great size. To keep 

 the men in good cheer I killed one for its meat. During 



