THE HIMALAYAN IBEX. I S3 



valley — that of the proper right branch of the stream — appeared to be the most likely for 

 game ; and the local Shikari who accompanied me told me that he fully expected to find a 

 good herd of Ibex in it. 



Sitting down under shelter of a tree, we carefully reconnoitred both valleys, scanning 

 every ravine and slope that was clear of snow, with both binoculars and telescope ; but for a 

 long time without success. At length a solitary male Ibex appeared high up the hill on the 

 opposite site of the left-hand valley, and after moving along its face for about half a mile, took 

 up his position on a rocky ridge, where he lay down. His horns were not very large, being 

 apparently only about thirty inches in length ; but as Ibex are rarely found alone, we thought 

 it very likely that others might be concealed not far from him, and accordingly resolved to 

 stalk him. It was easy enough to descend under cover of the forest to the bed of the stream, 

 where we were perfectly concealed from the view of the Ibex ; and having crossed by a snow 

 bridge, we commenced the long ascent. When about half our task was accomplished, a herd 

 of Ibex, among which were several old males of conspicuous whiteness, suddenly appeared 

 on a stony slope in the right-hand valley ; but having gone so far, we determined not to relin- 

 quish the pursuit of the solitary buck, and accordingly left the herd to be followed up another 

 time. At length we reached the point for which we had been making, on a level with the 

 spot where the Ibex had lain down ; and we now had no difficulty in making our way to a 

 ridge from whence we could obtain a good view of the Ibex and develop our plan of attack. 

 The ridge was gained, the wind was favorable, and the Ibex was lying, apparently quite 

 unsuspicious, where we had last seen him. I had, however, hardly adjusted my telescope 

 so as to make a careful inspection of the ground, when a mass of cloud came sweeping along 

 the hill tops, and a bitterly cold gust was accompanied by falling snowflakes. This gust was 

 in the opposite direction to that in which the wind had hitherto been gently blowing ; and 

 we had hardly observed the change before it conveyed a warning to the delicate senses of the 

 Ibex. In a moment he had risen, and, after a few minutes of hesitation, moved quickly up 

 the hill and vanished from our sight. Pursuit under the circumstances was useless ; and, as it 

 was now too late to follow the other herd, we descended and returned to our bivouac. 



Before daylight the following morning we set out in search of the herd. Instead of going 

 along the ridge as on the previous afternoon, we followed the bed of the right-hand stream, 

 along which we went until we reached a point where nearly perpendicular banks of earth 

 and gravel bounded the ravine on either side. Turning to our left, we had some difficulty in 

 finding a way to the top of the cliff, but having at length surmounted the obstacle, we reached 

 a level grassy plateau, on which were scattered clumps of fine deodars. From the farther 

 margin of this plain extensive stony slopes stretched upwards to the foot of the frowning crags 

 of the mountain above. A clear view could not be obtained from the plateau, so we took 

 advantage of a small ravine which ran down the hill-side, and took up a commanding position 

 from which the whole of the slopes were visible. 



For a long time we could see nothing, but at last my Shikari discovered several old male 

 Ibex which were grazing on a small hillock at the very foot of the crags, just where a water- 

 course issued from a narrow gorge about three quarters of a mile farther up the valley. 



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