94 AMONG THE PAMIRS. 



to be seen. I was soon on the track of a herd of 

 poli which were feeding on the plain, but from the 

 lie of the ground it was impossible to stalk them, 

 though it was not for want of trying, and I found 

 I was only running a very good chance of being 

 frost-bitten, so gave it up, and crossed to the spot 

 where I had left the big poli the previous day. 

 Not a trace of it remained, though Barat had only 

 brought in the head and skin, leaving the body, 

 which had not been made lawful food, according 

 to Mussulman ideas, by having its throat cut. 

 The wolves had been there during the night, and 



O O ' 



demolished every scrap. Nor could I make any- 

 thing of the wounded one, though his tracks were 

 visible until coming to stony ground, when all 

 traces vanished. 



A hearty breakfast and a pipe was a pleasant 

 variety, and we agreed that hunting poli was the 

 hardest work in the world, and it would be well 

 to keep ourselves fresh for another day. 



Dauvergne now bade us good-bye, and started 

 on his return journey for Wakhan. 



After toiling again all day unsuccessfully, we 

 determined to try a new ground, and started 

 down the main valley south - east from camp, 

 towards the mouth of the Kilik valley, which ran 



