92 THE MARKHOR 



I therefore shot a third one, this time in his seat of 

 honour, leaving the rest to the Koran. Be not 

 disgusted, you Europeans, accustomed to observe 

 the etiquette of sport ! It means a wild chase 

 after the wounded game, followed by a desperate 

 sawing with blunt knives at the throat of the 

 wretched animal whilst in its death-agony. What a 

 horribly cruel proceeding and all in honour of 

 Mahomet ! At last they have made a great gash, 

 the blood rushes out, praise be to Allah ! And now 

 the shikaris, with a conscience at rest, and mouths 

 watering, once more take the lead. 



The sides of the mountain begin to get more rocky, 

 but are still well covered with grass ; our path con- 

 tinues upwards over treeless spaces, interspersed by 

 green wavy lines the verdant banks of the many 

 streams hurrying and tumbling downhill towards us. 

 One might easily imagine oneself in Thuringia, to 

 judge by the complete absence of mountains they 

 seem to have disappeared into space. 



These are gala days for my poor sheep. There 

 are still five of them to enjoy the fresh green 

 pasture. The cook has not yet sharpened his knife ! 



I must beg forgiveness for again speaking of 

 these four-legged creatures. But, later on, up in the 

 snow, there is not a butcher's or poulterer's shop to 

 be found at every corner. Up there they must play 

 an important part as cold buffet. 



My red friend has become quite friendly ; he 



