TIGERS AT YANGI-SHAHAR. 183 



as they are called from Mecca. He had come 

 by way of India, which, he said, in spite of the 

 hardships encountered (for it was in the month 

 of December) on crossing the big passes, Kara- 

 koram, Kilian, &c., was infinitely better than by 

 Russian Turkistan and Constantinople, and much 

 cheaper ; but out of his seven companions, one 

 after another had been taken ill between Kara- 

 koram and the Kilian, and had died from the 

 effects of the cold! 



At Yangi-Shahar I found the people all agog 

 about two tigers. It appeared they always 

 marauded together, and divided their favours 

 between this and Chadir, a stage about eighteen 

 miles farther on. A deputation came praying 

 me to slay these animals. From what I had 

 heard, the tigers never returned to a kill, and 

 ranged all over a large area of country, chiefly 

 high grass and jungle ; therefore to hunt for 

 them would be almost useless. Having explained 

 this to them, I promised to do my best if I saw 

 my way to a shot; but as no one knew their 

 exact whereabouts, I considered it pretty hope- 

 less. The last news of them was from Chadir, 

 where some sheep had been killed three days 

 previously. 



