214 EXPEDITION TO KALMUK. 



Pamir : it is very little cultivated, and inhabited 

 entirely by Kirghiz. 



Having done about twenty miles, we got to 

 the camp of one Bash Agma, where my guide 

 said a Beg resided who would be able to tell me 

 where to look for goolja. The Beg was very 

 civil, and gave me a little mud hovel to put up 

 in, but could not give me much of the required 

 information, as he said none of his people were 

 shikaris. He had heard, however, that if I 

 followed my present road up the Aksu river, 

 which flowed through the valley, and then were 

 to ascend the mountain - range to the left, I 

 should find myself on a sort of table-land where 

 it was reported poli were to be found ; but 

 at this season grass, water, and fuel were very 

 scarce, and he did not think I should be able 

 to remain. 



Accordingly next day we followed the route 

 he had indicated, the valley ascending gradually 

 as we advanced. Snow-cocks and chikor were 

 pretty numerous on the rocky slopes, though 

 the altitude was only about 5000 feet, and I 

 was surprised to find them at such a low level. 

 Also coveys of partridges (Perdrix darbatus), 

 which seem closely allied to ours. Of these I 



