2l6 EXPEDITION TO KALMUK. 



poses; but the Kirghiz did not seem to fre- 

 quent this part, owing to the extreme scarcity 

 of water. 



Turning north up this pamir, we ascended 

 another and higher pass of some 8000 feet. 

 Beyond this was a table - land of about four 

 miles, when we once more descended into a 

 valley. The mountains, though fairly covered 

 with grass, were without any springs ; and we 

 were very glad to catch sight of some yurts 

 in the distance, just as it was getting dark, 

 for it had been a long day thirty miles or 

 so and not a drop of water on the road. 



The mouth of this valley opened on to a 

 pamir which looked very like poli - ground ; 

 but as the altitude was not more than 7000 

 feet, it seemed very improbable that they would 

 be found there. I was therefore much aston- 

 ished when a Kirghiz shikari rode up on a 

 camel, and said he had heard I had come to 

 hunt, and that if I pitched my camp at a water- 

 channel a little way below, and remained a few 

 days, he would show me some sport. Feeling 

 utterly unbelieving, I said the only game one 

 could expect on these low hills were jeran. 

 Without a word he got off his camel, and from 



