A SORT OF PAMIR. 215 



had already procured specimens, a cock and a 

 hen, in Kalmuk. As yet there were no poli 

 heads visible, not that I expected to see them 

 in the flesh so low down, but, as a rule, if any 

 horned heads are to be got within carrying 

 distance, they are to be seen on the mazars 

 of the Kirghiz. 



At a place called Safr Bai I met another Beg, 

 but he could give me no authentic information 

 either. 



On reaching Soutan, some twenty miles beyond 

 the last camp, my guide told me we were to leave 

 the valley, turn up a nullah due south, and cross 

 the range at whose base we had travelled the 

 last three days. We tried to get information 

 from the Kirghiz, but they appeared to know 

 nothing. 



Following the nullah at whose mouth we had 

 camped, we ascended a gorge for about four 

 miles : it was clad here and there with patches 

 of low fir forest and juniper. Then passing over 

 a col, we descended on to a sort of pamir. 



Besides chikor and snow - cock, there were 

 quantities of marmots. The hills on the south 

 side of the range were covered with the fine 

 pamir grass, so much prized for grazing pur- 



