THE SHALMAIJ. 343 



for good water to make our tea ; at last, we 

 discovered a crystal stream flowing into the 

 muddy river from the other side, and flattered 

 ourselves there would be a bridge, but we 

 were doomed to be disappointed, and had to 

 content ourselves with a kind of mud soup, 

 whilst the clear bright water was flowing 

 before our eyes. 



Reaching Kirboo, we halted a couple of 

 days. On Sunday evening, Wilson and I took 

 a stroll up a valley, and saw some capital 

 ibex ground, and plenty of their tracks. We 

 did not, however, go after them next day, 

 for we dedicated it to the shalmar, another 

 variety of the wild sheep found in Ladak, and 

 on the dry arid hills to the westward. I shot 

 a female early in the morning, and later in 

 the day had a long stalk after a flock of 

 males, but did not succeed in getting a shot. 

 They somewhat resemble the Ovis Ammon in 

 habits, although not nearly so wild or shy. 

 They are little more than a third the size. I 

 am unable to say more about them, as we 

 had but little time for observation. When 



