KASHMIR AND LADAK 
N O mountain country in the world possesses the variety of 
game that is to be found in Kashmir and the neighbouring 
states; and the excellent game laws and sanctuaries intro- 
duced some years ago should preserve all the species in 
fair numbers, if not in abundance, for future generations. 
At the same time the sportsman must not expect to find 
the game as thick in a mountain country as it is in Africa, and those who 
are not content unless they can bring home a cartload of heads had better 
confine themselves to the latter country. 
Some of the animals in Kashmir, such as the barasingh, have increased 
of late years, and the only species apparently in need of still further pro- 
tection are the Ovis hodgsoni and the Ovis vignei , or sharpoo, of Ladak; 
for these more stringent regulations have been made this year (1914). 
Perhaps the goa or Tibetan gazelle, which has such a small range, may 
have to be still further protected before long. 
The Vale of Kashmir is one of the most beautiful spots in the world, 
and although the prices of everything have gone up of late years it is still 
probably about the cheapest country to travel and hunt in. Those fortunate 
ones who enter the valley at the first burst of spring will surely decide 
that life can have little to offer more beautiful than this; and should the 
mountains that encircle them not appear as high as expected, they must 
remember that they are already nearly 6,000 feet above sea level, as they 
approach Srinagar, the capital. At this season the grass lawns running 
down to the water’s edge and the magnificent chenar trees offer ideal 
spots for pitching a camp; but those who hurry over the passes to reach 
distant shooting-grounds will leave all this greenery and cultivation behind 
them, and will have to content themselves with the rugged beauty of 
a desolate mountain region. 
One of the advantages of the country is that every man has an equal 
chance, as, with the exception of a few nullahs or valleys retained by the 
Maharajah for his guests, and the game sanctuaries, the sportsman can 
wander almost anywhere he wishes. Of course, now that the system of 
dividing up the Ammon and Sharpoo ground in Ladak into blocks has 
been introduced, and the number of guns allowed into Ladak each season 
limited, one must apply early if desirous of hunting in that part of the 
country. 
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