i8o SPORT AND TRAVEL 



two separate sharpu stalks, in a pouring rain all 

 day, and did not reach a suitable camp-ground till 

 dark, pretty well exhausted. 



We came on a herd of sharpu half-way down the 

 mountain, and if my chota shikari had been at my 

 heels, as he always should be, with the guns, I should 

 have had a good two hundred yards shot at a big 

 head. But by an unlucky chance he happened for 

 once to be lagging behind, and by the time he came 

 up, the herd had got well out of range. We stalked 

 them to the top of the mountain again, over some 

 nasty cliffs, till a precipice stopped us just out of 

 range, and we were obliged to leave them watching 

 us at a safe distance. Descending a short distance, 

 and then seeing two more sharpu on the top of the 

 spur, we climbed again, but in vain. All this work 

 had occupied three hours ; and at four o'clock, hav- 

 ing had nothing to eat since seven in the morning, 

 I was quite able to appreciate my tiffin of a cold 

 sausage and some cold tea, eaten in the pouring rain. 



Sharpu, by the way, are quite red, small, and ap- 

 pear to be all legs, judging from the way they get 

 over the ground. They are a species of sheep, with 

 the usual curved horns. 



At dark, it being impracticable to pitch the tents 

 in the wet, I took refuge in a cattle-shed, where the 

 account of the day was written by the feeble light 



