54 THE FORESTS OF UPPER INDIA 



hour, the tracks became less marked, and were only at 

 times met with, formed by the game. A grassy slope was 

 followed between two lines of strata, and ravines like 

 chimneys were passed, where stones were apt to rattle 

 down and had to be dodged. 



Towards noon a halt was made on a ledge of rock over- 

 looking the valley below. Breakfast being partaken of, 

 the glasses were used to examine the hillside, and sights 

 were taken to fix the position of the forests in view ; the 

 river was scanned descending from glaciers, a white twist- 

 ing line of foam, hid in places by rocks and boulders. A 

 black object was seen on a snow bridge. The binoculars 

 revealed a large black bear 5,000 feet below, crossing the 

 valley, a mere black speck on the snow and gray rocks. 

 Tracks of therina were now numerous, and silence was 

 necessary not to alarm the watchful sentinels of the flock 

 now reposing in some safe position, where the upward 

 breeze began to freshen. It was useless to stalk going 

 upwards, as the scent would soon betray the shikari's 

 approach. We must round the rock buttress, where the 

 tracks of the thar and fresh droppings showed that a 

 large flock had recently passed along to where more 

 grazing ground existed. There were caves where the 

 slabs of strata overhung the shaded sleeping-place of 

 many thar. A well-worn pulpit-like rock was the sentry- 

 box, where some old female was placed to warn the flock 

 of danger from prowling snow leopards, white like the 

 weather-beaten rock. 



Following this narrow ledge was dangerous in places, as 

 one slip on the polished gneiss rock would shoot the unwary 

 cragsman over the edge to fall into the depths beneath. A 

 stone dropped here would perhaps strike twice in a descent 

 of 4,000 feet. The natives crossed barefoot with the utmost 

 nonchalance, carrying rifle and instruments and their 



