CENTRAL ASIA 
either from Europe or India, very early in the year ; high passes, impassable 
post roads, and swollen rivers all hinder the traveller in the spring months. 
It is unlikely that actual hunting would be commenced before the end of 
May. There are then about three full months to spend on the high ground 
after ibex and sheep, and the option of another three months after roe, 
and in forests after wapiti. Hunting may be continued through the winter 
if the sportsman is keen enough to put up with the hardships which arise. 
It would be always cold on the high ground, snow may fall any time on 
the sheep country, and a considerable amount of rain must be expected. 
The heaviest rainfall occurs in the month of July over the Central Tian 
Shan. But wood is plentiful; camp fires are always to be enjoyed. For late 
autumn and winter work either lined tents or the native yourt are to be 
recommended, the latter for choice; but in the forest one need not fear 
the cold as much as on the plateaux. It is on the high bleak sheep grounds 
that the traveller will do well to supply himself with a good warmly-lined 
tent, for there are no camp fires to be indulged in and, indeed, scarcely 
sufficient fuel with which to cook one’s food. 
Any season will suit for ibex and sheep so long as the high meadows 
are not snow-bound; the roe deer shooting is limited by the short period 
that their horns are in condition, October and November being the best 
season; while the wapiti can be followed for fully four months. Generally 
speaking, six months — between June and November — spent in hunting 
ought to result in a good mixed bag, and a very enjoyable time free from 
any great hardship. 
The arrangements of one’s programme in the mountains should be made 
with a view to the latest date that it is desirable to return by. It is obviously 
necessary to attempt to get the ibex and wild sheep first so as to be ready 
to devote all one’s time and attention to the pursuit of the roe deer and 
stags as soon as their horns are in condition and the latter are “ roaring.” 
On the other hand, a start cannot be made too early, for the high country 
is impossible to tackle before a certain date. The chief points to be 
remembered are that the ibex and roe deer will not give one much 
trouble to get, that the sheep may require a longer chase, and that the 
wapiti come last on the list and can be hunted for an almost indefinite 
length of time. 
The usual itinerary of an expedition from Kuldja is to go south-east 
to the mouth of either the Kunguz or Jingalan Valley, and to follow one of 
these up, crossing by the Narat or Jamby and the Karagay Tash Passes 
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