WORK AND SPORT IN THE N.W.P. 57 
mund, and Maymyo, all centres of the Government 
of the Empire during the greater part of the year. 
Of large game the Bhagarathi Valley did not. con- 
tain many species ; below, the “gural” and the 
“thar,” both mountain goats, were not uncommon ; 
and higher up, the “ barhel,” or mountain sheep, 
were to be found. Small game, especially the 
“chikor” partridge, was plentiful, and the “ khalij,” 
the “ koklass,” and the “monal” pheasant were also 
frequent. Black and red bear were also to be met, 
the former being much dreaded by the people, for 
they ravage the crops and willingly assault any 
intruder, inflicting terrible wounds in head and face 
that are followed by disfigurement, often grotesque 
in its horror. October is the month for hunting the 
“barhel,” for then the rams descend from the preci- 
pices and join the flocks ; and in the years of which I 
write there was excellent shooting to be obtained in 
the valley above Gangotri and at Rudagaira, on the 
left bank of the river. The forests have since been 
handed back to the Raja of Tehri, but there should 
be no difficulty in making a pilgrimage from Mus- 
soorie to the Cow’s Mouth, if beautiful scenery is 
held to be a reward for the trouble entailed. Of 
fishing there is none in these icy waters. 
The inhabitants of the Bhagarathi Valley say that 
they expect a snowfall in each month of the year, 
and at Hirsil—formerly the residence of “ Shikari” 
Wilson, the first European to settle here—19 feet 
of snow have been recorded in the winter; while 
above, at the higher villages of Mukba and Dhardli, 
the people leave their houses in charge of the old 
and decrepit, and spend the cold weather at lower 
