IBEX-SHOOTING IN BALTISTAN 145 



our faces calm and severe as became our position as 

 judges in this impromptu tribunal. The result was 

 that on searching the cook's bedding a large quan- 

 tity of stolen provisions was found, and there was 

 nothing for it but to have the shikaris give him a 

 beating and to discharge him on the spot, which 

 meant for him at least a lonely two-hundred-mile 

 tramp back to civilization. Fortunately one of the 

 coolies was found to be an excellent cook, and all 

 ended well ; there was no further attempt at steal- 

 ing during the trip, for which we had Thomas to 

 thank, and thenceforth he moved in an exclusive 

 circle, several heavens above that of the others. 



At last, after sixteen days of marching, in which 

 time we had accomplished two hundred and sev- 

 enty-six miles, we found ourselves at the mouth of 

 the valley of the Basha River, the entrance to the 

 nullah in which our first shooting was to be found. 

 And now came the question as to what consti- 

 tutes a "nullah" which one sportsman can hold 

 exclusively while camped therein ; for a letter was 

 brought us on the night before entering, from a 

 sahib who claimed that he was already within its 

 limits, and that he thus had the right to the whole 

 valley. 



To describe the situation briefly, the valley of the 

 Basha is some twelve miles long, being divided by 



