148 FROM YARKAND TO AKSU. 



The cause of the disturbance soon appeared, 

 riding a pony. I abused him freely ; but as 

 he did not understand my language, it availed 

 nothing. He waved his hand gaily in the 

 direction the deer had taken, and evidently 

 thought he was giving us useful information. 

 I merely said, " Anang is kit," which he 

 seemed to understand, as he moved off rather 

 hurriedly. 



Beyond following some more tiger - pugs, I 

 did nothing until the evening, when I arranged 

 a beat for some pheasants. There were not many, 

 but a fine old cock got up with a great fuss and 

 crow, and gave me a grand rocketing shot over- 

 head. He was soon followed by another cock and 

 hen. I found the cock exactly like the English 

 pheasant, without the ring neck, but a slightly 

 pied wing, which did not show much until the 

 bird was in hand. The hen was marked the 

 same as her English sister, but slighter in colour, 

 which gave her a washed-out appearance. 



My next game was of another description, and 

 rather turned the tables on me. While looking 

 across the maidan, I became aware of a party of 

 crows making a great fuss, and on asking my 

 shikari what he thought it was, he looked very 



