A COLD STALK. 235 



plateau cut up with numerous small ravines ; 

 but though we searched everywhere for tracks 

 of poli for several miles round, none were to 

 be found : the ground was utterly barren, not a 

 blade of grass to be seen. 



At the edge of this plateau we descended 

 where one of the tributaries of the Markan-su 

 or Kashgar river ran, following it up towards 

 the Karaart mountains. Here we came across 

 fresh tracks of poli, and about ten o'clock 

 sighted the herd on a grass flat about a mile 

 off. Had they remained there, it; would have 

 been an easy matter, but they shortly moved 

 up to a gravel slope, and one after another lay 

 down. I tried every possible way to get at them 

 from below, but found it could not be done, and 

 it was equally impossible to stalk them from 

 above, as the wind was blowing straight down 

 the valley. There was nothing for it but to 

 follow their example, and lie down until it 

 pleased them to move on to a more convenient 

 ground for a stalk. Three mortal hours we lay 

 and watched, until it was so cold I was obliged 

 to move on, and determined to have one more 

 try to circumvent them. My old shikari had 

 gone to sleep, so I left him where he lay, 



