IN THE WURDWAN. 71 



At last the persecuted creature came within range, 

 paused, and a well-aimed Whitworth holt rolled it lifeless 

 down the hill, to the great satisfaction of the shikarries 

 who, shouting triumphantly, dashed down to perform the 

 necessary Mahomedan ceremony of cutting the throat with 

 an invocation to Allah, without which the flesh would he 

 to them unlawful ; and they entertained a shrewd idea it 

 would become their perquisite, the rather as I had a sheep 

 slaughtered that morning for my own consumption. 



Heavy rain overtook us ; hut this little success cheered 

 us up, and the prospect of a feast of flesh put the shikar- 

 ries in high spirits. 



25th May. Off in the direction taken the first evening, 

 when I fired with such ill success. We did not catch a 

 glimpse of a hear now, though on that occasion we saw 

 five. 



In the evening, we went up the valley, and having 

 met a pedlar merchant, and three coolies with his goods 

 coming down we considered it of no use going on, so 

 returned. I had some talk with these people, the 

 ugliest imaginable. They had come from Ladak, and 

 described the road to be at present all but impassable 

 from depth of snow, and do not think it will be safe for 

 a month. We saw two bears far up a valley on the 

 left hand, as we neared camp, and resolved to seek them 

 the following morning. 



26th May We started as arranged, crossed the bridge, 

 and as soon as we obtained a view into the vale were 

 gratified by the sight of two bears quietly feeding, 

 and in a favourable position. We made a long and 

 careful stalk to the spot, and looking about found our 

 expected prey had moved out of ken. We saw another 

 bear higher up above us, but went in search of our 

 former acquaintances, giving them the preference. 



