CENTRAL ASIA 
valleys where roe and stag abound; every ridge has its herds of ibex — 
the Atbashi range being notably good stalking ground. The western 
declivities of Khan Tengri contain another resort of wild sheep, and those 
fastnesses should contain ibex as big as any in Kok-su. 
A programme made with the intention of visiting these districts should 
be planned so as to enter from the west. Andijan, at the head of the Russian 
Central Asian Railway, in the Ferghana, is a good starting point, and easily 
reached in nine days from England. Caravan and men should be here 
engaged permanently. The road thence will lead eastwards to Osh, Usgent 
and over the Ferghana Mountains by either the Yassi or the Sur-tash Pass 
on to the Arpa Plateau. Ten days* trek from rail-head will take one past 
Chatir Kul on to the Ak-sai Plateau. All this region averages about 11,000 
feet in altitude; it is typical plateau pasture-land, tenanted in certain 
seasons by Kirghiz. On the south lie the Kashgar ranges and further east 
the Kok-kia and Kok-shal — all good sheep country, and of vast extent. A 
couple of months could be easily spent in hunting this district alone. North 
of the plateau rises the At-bashi range, where I know ibex of 50 inches 
and 52 inches have been shot. Eastwards, by crossing a low col, the 
Upper At-bashi valley is entered, and here for the first time the traveller 
from the west will be introduced to the typical Tian Shan scenery of 
forest and meadow and high snow peaks. I have not followed this valley up, 
but it looked perfect game country; a Cossack guard showed me roe and 
wapiti horns from the vicinity, and I am of opinion that a large extent 
of wild country, worthy of an expedition, lies in that direction. 
The next valley to the north, namely the Narin, is another likely place, 
especially if the head waters are visited, and from there a voyage of 
exploration be made to the upper sources of the Sarz-Jas, on the flanks 
of Khan Tengri. Severtzoff speaks of the high plains at the sources of the 
Kar-kara, the Sarz-Jas and Tekkes as being frequented by large herds 
of sheep, and the ibex are sure to run large in such an Alpine region. 
Belonging also to a programme of sport in the Russian Tian Shan is 
a trial of the Son Kul district, the Tolas and Alexandrovsky Mountains. 
It is chiefly the sheep of the Son Kul and Alexandrovsky ranges that 
would attract a hunter to that district. There is little known about them; 
Severtzoff named them as a distinct variety, but we have learnt nothing 
since. 
An alternative to the Tekkes and Kok-su shooting grounds for hunters 
who make their base at Kuldja is the mountainous region to the north 
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