SHOOTING ALPINE IBEX 35 



servants, is sunk in a hollow and is thus 

 sheltered from the wind. 



Up here the cool freshness of the air was a 

 pleasant relief after the stifling journey. In- 

 deed, the little rooms were distinctly cold at 

 night. 



Next morning, about seven o'clock, we 

 started on mules for the ibex hunt. 



The country is remarkably wild and pictu- 

 resque and full of variety. Far away we caught 

 a glimpse of Mont Blanc's white snow-peak. 

 The road was barren and stony, and, except for 

 edelweiss and a few alpine plants, there was 

 no sign of vegetation. How even the frugal 

 ibex manage to exist here is a mystery to me. 



The King possesses three large ibex pre- 

 serves, and each is shot over only once in 

 every three years. The total stock is about 

 4000. It has been carefully and cleverly 

 nursed back to this number after a period 

 during which it had declined to a few head. 

 The prime necessity for the preservation of 

 this game is absolute solitude and quiet. The 

 King told me he had on several occasions sent 



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