THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
slopes of the Tian Shan is seven to nine days’ march, which includes the 
somewhat difficult crossing of the Muzart Pass. The actual crossing of 
the watershed is easy enough, but on the southern side is a long glacier 
which must be followed up and which is bad going for pack animals. 
Having arrived on the northern slopes of the Celestial Mountains, the 
Tekkes Valley greets the travellers ; its meadows and forests, and innumer- 
able side valleys leading up to the haunts of roe, wapiti, ibex and sheep, 
being a very pleasant welcome after the tedious treks which have had to 
be undergone in order to reach it. Within three days to the north lies 
Kuldja, the rendezvous of all who have come hither from the Russian 
steppes or the Mongolian Altai, for the Upper Ili Valley is a cul-de-sac, 
and all who enter must come through Kuldja unless they have been ener- 
getic enough to climb over the Muzart Pass. All to the east is Chinese 
Territory, that to the west is forbidden Russian. 
Of the main Tian Shan the principal locality for sport, that most fre- 
quently visited, and where the best heads have been obtained, is the area 
drained by the right affluents of the Tekkes River. Other districts have 
been tried, yet the comparatively small area seems to hold out more 
opportunities for sport than any other. The chief reason for this is the 
excessive ruggedness of the spurs of the main ridge, and the refuges 
created thereby. There are outlying ridges which rise to as much as 
12,000 feet and which form protecting walls to the hidden valleys in 
the heart of the range. There are valleys up which it is only possible to 
force one’s way by travelling on foot and taking lightly -laden lead horses 
with one’s baggage. The steepness of the ridges, the close proximity of 
the high main ridge and immense areas of snow fields, and consequently 
the heavy rainfall resulting in wonderful pastures and large areas of forest, 
all combine to make this special portion of the Tian Shan suitable for 
holding large numbers of game animals, and especially adapted to enable 
them to survive many foes. The whole variety of trophies which the Tian 
Shan offers are to be found within a week’s trekking of each other. Of 
course, a hunter may choose to go elsewhere and try new ground, and by 
doing this he may have greater success with wild sheep and perhaps 
wapiti, than that which the Tekkes district can offer; but for big ibex and 
roe deer it is quite unnecessary to go further afield. 
As regards the season of the year there are one or two points which 
must be recorded, for so much depends upon favourable climatic condi- 
tions in this region of severe contrasts. It is difficult to get to the Tian Shan, 
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