2 IBEX SHOOTING 



of April, before which, consequently, ibex 

 are not to be got. February and March, 

 however, are the very best months in the 

 whole year for " Barasingha " or Cashmere 

 stags, and for them I accordingly " went," 

 in order to fill up time till April. 



It was a terribly hard winter, a severe frost 

 reigned night and day, and the countryside 

 was several feet under snow, which, even 

 as late as the middle of March, showed 

 no signs of melting. The whole land lay 

 enshrouded in a frosty mist, which com- 

 pletely hid the surrounding hills from view. 

 Now and again only did the sun manage to 

 force his way through, while snowstorms 

 of three days' duration were no unfrequent 

 occurrences. 



I was uncommonly lucky, however, and 

 managed to get five stags, of which four 

 were real beauties. 



Gradually time wore on ; and we began 

 to be nervous as to whether some other 

 fellow might not come up soon for ibex, in 



