IN THE WURDWAN. 97 



provide for. We, therefore, made arrangements for a man 

 to start early to-morrow to Shanguz, to procure supplies 

 there. 



12th June. Up the valley leading to Bodicote in 

 expectation of finding ibex. We had a tremendous climh 

 which, though very toilsome, was not dangerous, hut saw 

 not a single ibex ; we halted in a suitable spot to wait 

 until evening, in hopes of game appearing. There was a 

 bear in sight feeding below us, which, after some discus- 

 sion, it was decided ought to be left unmolested, for fear 

 the report of the guns might disturb ibex within hear- 

 ing. Subhan went off to reconnoitre. 



After breakfast I sat watching the bear which, 

 having finished his meal, came in our direction, and on 

 to the snow in the ravine below us, where, to my 

 astonishment, he stretched himself out composedly to 

 snooze, apparently approving of cool applications to a 

 distended stomach. Subhan returned, and reported that 

 he could see no ibex in any direction, but had seen their 

 tracks with those of dogs in pursuit ; so, auguring ill for 

 our chance of those animals, we resolved to attack our 

 unconscious neighbour below, and descended for that 

 purpose, but could not get within a hundred yards of him ; 

 at which distance, aiming at his head, I despatched an 

 Enfield, which just missed him, and off he went down 

 the snow in the utmost amazement, and came nigh to 

 breaking his neck, but pulled up, ploughing deep into the 

 snow with his long claws, and sliding some distance a 

 most ridiculous object. 



Having gained some three hundred yards thus, he 

 stopped and looked all round. We remained quite still, 

 concealed by a rock. He then slowly descended the 

 rocks on our side, and, choosing a good site, there he 

 seated himself, looking anxiously from side to side. We 



H 



