236 SUGHEIT. 



for a consideration. Ample ' backsheesh ' was promised, 

 and things looked brighter. But the wretched aspect of 

 the land, as compared with my anticipations, still kept 

 me down-hearted. 



I took Subhan with me in the downward direction in 

 which we were to move to-morrow ; but there was no 

 improvement visible in the country. This valley 

 debouched upon another which crossed it at right angles, 

 its enclosing mountains as bald as ever. I announced 

 my resolve to prosecute my travels on to Yarkand, if we 

 found no game, and questioned the Yarkandi as to the 

 reception I was likely to meet with, and whether he would 

 accompany me. He replied that, as Yarkand was ruled 

 by the khaltai padshah people, he could not answer for 

 his accompanying me, his present business would not 

 permit it : he would shew me shikar, that was all. 



A ' bunderbus ' was made to move camp into the 

 transverse valley to-morrow, to a place on the river 

 affording grass and wood in plenty ; and in the afternoon 

 the hunting party, equipped for two days' excursion, were 

 to start for the yak grounds the place where the 

 merchant and the Yarkandies said they had seen yak 

 three days back. 



23rd August. I passed a pleasant night of undisturbed 

 repose, the air here being soft and mild compared with 

 that we have recently been subject to. After breakfast 

 we moved off, and, passing down a declivity of some three 

 miles, crossed a fine clear stream into a sort of wild 

 meadow bottom, producing a good crop of grass and 

 abundant thick-growing bushes. It looked a nice place 

 to camp. On the way we found a yak's head, and at 

 this place other remains of the same animal, a large bull, 

 apparently victim to some shikarry. On arrival of 

 equipage, we selected clothing, bedding, and victuals ; 



