92 IBEX. 



had all gone off, not a sign of one being discernible for the rest of that day. 

 The climbing was very severe, the cliffs being nearly perpendicular, 

 and devoid of the friendly juniper bushes, common on some inarkhor 

 grounds. 



Next day I was away up the valley at dawn, and found three fine males 

 feeding on a slope below the cliffs and snow. We made a stalk up a 

 shallow nullah to the left, trying to get to their level ; but whether some 

 watchful female gave the alarm, or they had finished feeding, or they had 

 got our wind in the shifty corner of the mountains, I do not know ; any 

 way, they were up in the cliffs when I made my stalk, and we lay like 

 stones for more than three hours, hoping they would move into some gorge 

 and allow us to shift, so as to make another attempt from above. No 

 such luck, for there they remained, and finally, after a heavy snowstorm, 

 we had to make for camp, drenched and nearly frozen. 



I was after them in the morning again, but could not find them, though 

 we hunted the hillside and watched for four or five hours ; then it came 

 on to snow, sleet, and blow, cutting us to the bone. We stood it until 

 we were simply frozen, and had to make for camp over snow and rocks. 

 Such fine heads, and real hard work after them, with no result. It was 

 cold at the altitude of my camp, freezing every night. In the morning 

 the small servant's pal I used could not be folded or packed until the sun 

 had thawed it ! You may imagine how much one appreciated an ulster, 

 warm socks, drawers, and nightcap in bed. The latter consisted of a 

 Wolseley valise and extra waterproof-sheet on mother earth, with 

 blankets and resai rolled around one. The natives slept under a rock, 

 with a big fire in front, but were very cold, I should have supposed ; 

 yet they had no complaints, and gorged themselves on the rank buck 

 goafs-flesh. 



For three weeks, off and on, I worked for these big ibex, and never got 

 within shot. On one occasion I was nearly successful, having scaled the 

 cliffs to the snow line, and got above them, but, when moving along for 

 the stalk, some awful female gave the alarm, and they passed quite 

 leisurely at about 300 yards above me ! Had they been below, I would 

 have risked a shot, but that distance up a precipice was too doubtful, and, 

 though I returned to them once more, after a fortnight's tour round 

 other nullahs, I never got a shot. I bagged two with the '500 

 Express ad interim, and shall tell of them when discussing that size 

 of bore. 



As I look over the notes in my diary, I am puzzled to know how I had 

 patience to endure the wettings and cold winds, day after day, with no 

 result. Doubtless the size of the three " big 'uns " was a stimulus ; for, if 

 I could have got within shot, I might have got two, if not the three. I 

 certainly was very sanguine, but my patience was not rewarded; it is 

 doubtful if any other rifle has bagged them on that most awful ground. 

 Probably they were all three over 40iu. 



