DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31772#0105
TEAYELS IX TURKISTAX.
63
and 8-^° below zero inside our felt tent, pitched in tlie sheltered
ground of Torugat-bela some distance below. The Torugat-bela
pastures were occupied by Kara Kirghiz and Kazaks from the
Narin valley, who come over every year from the Russian side
with about 5000 ponies, for winter grazing on the southern
slopes of the pass, and pay revenue while there to Kashghar.
We saw great numbers of their stout well-made ponies all about.
Both they and the men look enduring ancl active, and they
must be harcly to a clegree to stancl as they do the chilling
bitter wincl of these heights in mid-winter.
The camp haltecl at the foot of the pass on the 5th January,
ancl we went about twelve miles towards the west to look out for
Ovis poli, of whicli we saw several large flocks, one numbering as
many as eighty-five. We founcl them on open ground on the flat-
topped spurs and rounded hills, but when alarmecl they took to
precipitous rocks as easily and confidently as ibex. I saw a
black ibex, wliich I stalkecl till I was nearly frozen, but witliout
getting a shot. Previous to this, not wishing to return empty-
handecl to camp, I hacl sent off two of my attenclant mountecl
Kirghiz to try for Ovis poli, ancl they rejoined me on my way
back with a fine ram. Finding that I had been unsuccessful,
they pressed me liard to allow them to say that the “kill” was
mine! Late in the evening another party of our Kirghiz
escort returned with two Ovis poli, a female and a young male.
We obtained in these an excellent supply of meat for our camp.
This “ mountain mutton” was goocl ancl pleasant to the taste,
with a slight flavour of venison.
The nature of the country admits of the Ovis poli and the
ibex even, when they come down to feed on tlie low ground as
I saw, being stalked, followed, or met by the sportsman riding
mounted on a trusty pony. With rifle slung, ancl accompanied
63
and 8-^° below zero inside our felt tent, pitched in tlie sheltered
ground of Torugat-bela some distance below. The Torugat-bela
pastures were occupied by Kara Kirghiz and Kazaks from the
Narin valley, who come over every year from the Russian side
with about 5000 ponies, for winter grazing on the southern
slopes of the pass, and pay revenue while there to Kashghar.
We saw great numbers of their stout well-made ponies all about.
Both they and the men look enduring ancl active, and they
must be harcly to a clegree to stancl as they do the chilling
bitter wincl of these heights in mid-winter.
The camp haltecl at the foot of the pass on the 5th January,
ancl we went about twelve miles towards the west to look out for
Ovis poli, of whicli we saw several large flocks, one numbering as
many as eighty-five. We founcl them on open ground on the flat-
topped spurs and rounded hills, but when alarmecl they took to
precipitous rocks as easily and confidently as ibex. I saw a
black ibex, wliich I stalkecl till I was nearly frozen, but witliout
getting a shot. Previous to this, not wishing to return empty-
handecl to camp, I hacl sent off two of my attenclant mountecl
Kirghiz to try for Ovis poli, ancl they rejoined me on my way
back with a fine ram. Finding that I had been unsuccessful,
they pressed me liard to allow them to say that the “kill” was
mine! Late in the evening another party of our Kirghiz
escort returned with two Ovis poli, a female and a young male.
We obtained in these an excellent supply of meat for our camp.
This “ mountain mutton” was goocl ancl pleasant to the taste,
with a slight flavour of venison.
The nature of the country admits of the Ovis poli and the
ibex even, when they come down to feed on tlie low ground as
I saw, being stalked, followed, or met by the sportsman riding
mounted on a trusty pony. With rifle slung, ancl accompanied