96 AMONG THE PAMIRS. 



of the ravine through which the river cuts its 

 way. The poli lie about on these steppes, where 

 there is a certain sort of grass which springs up 

 through the gravel ; but in the early morning, or 

 at night, they go down to the flats by the river, 

 where they can feed with less trouble. 



We sighted some gooljas, but they were out in 

 the open, and unstalkable, and after hunting up 

 the valley until within view of the glacier at 

 its head, and having investigated all the likely 

 ground, we retraced our steps to the mouth of 

 the nullah, where we found my yak-man with 

 the head of the poli, with which we returned. 



My next chance was after a long and difficult 

 stalk, finally having to scramble over the rocks as 

 hard as I could go, so that I was not at all in a fit 

 state to fire. On my getting up to them the herd 

 stood for a moment, but it was a good 200 yards 

 off. However, pulling myself together as well as 

 I could in my breathless condition, I fired right 

 and left. Clean misses both ! Reloading, I gave 

 them two more shots as they scrambled up the 

 mountain-side. I watched them for some time, 

 in hopes that one might be hit and fall out ; but 

 no such luck, on they went, stopping every now 

 and again to look back, and at last they disap- 



