The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-02
IBEX HUNTING IN CASHMERE.
EXCITING SPORT AS FOLLOWED IN
THAT COUNTRY.


Much Patience in Stalking the Wary
Animals Must he observation-disclosures
ing Under Awkward Conditions.
Personal "Reminiscences of Hun
ter in the Himalayas-Hard Work
Rewarded by Good Sport.
From the San Francisco Bulletin.
Suddenly my heart almost stopped beat
ing as 1 saw Jehan Khan crouch quickly.
then turn round to beckonofn g 10 Crormg ia p
to him: and 1 can hardy descrfbe my
feelings when 1 heard him, whisper, Kel
Gbex), sahib, KEEL" OF course, I. wanted
to snatch my rifle, imagining the game
to be close by, but Jehan Khan made me
look over the rock first. Slowly raising
my head, looked hard in all directions,
but for some time could see absolutely
nothing. At last, under Jehan Khan's
guidance, l saw three or four specks a
good thousand yards off on a grassy
slope, just on the edge of the snow line,
and with another deep valley between
US. Through the telescope made out five
ibex, all males, feeding. downward, a
couple of them with, what seemed to me,
the most magnificent horns. AS We watch
ed Them one of the large ones sprung on
to a rock, as If to take a survey of the
scenery. and what a grand sight he look
ed with his massive horns curving back,
and his long, flowing beard! What i'm
mense sums did ] not offer mentally to
be suddenly transported 200 yards or 30
nearer the ibex, and how / grumbed be-
cause they had not chosen our ridge to
feed over
However, after having first ascertaned
the direction. of the wind, 1t did not take
Jehan Khan long to make up his mind
as to the best way Of stalking the beasts
Back down one side of the hill for a lit
tie bit, then to the left over a small col
which led to the entrance of the next
valley, but which he guessed and right
ly, too, would be out of sight Of the ibex.
Up. up and up till we were on the same
slope as the herd, and well over them /.
sounds so easy In the telling of 1t, but
1t was so difficult in the doing While we
knew we were screened from the ibex by
the ridge we had just left, we ran at our
best pace. After that 1t was a succession
% quick, crawling rushes over rocks
slippery ground, patches of snow, any
thing that came in our way. / thought I
was dead beat before the stalk was half
over, but managed to get along somehow
or ether.
Rough Travelling.
AS we gradually got near the place we
were making for, we had to proceed very
slowly and carefully bent nearly double
and peering very cautiously over every
rock before we went on again. At last
Jehan Khan, after carefully looking over
a rock, sank slowly behind IT, and a
pleased smile came over his face He, at
any rate, had done his duty for forty
yards behind that rock were the fbex still
feeding and unsuspcous. and the wind
blowing straight from them to us. II
was my turn now, but what with ex-
element and the hard stalk my hands
were shaking 50 badly that | could hard
ly place my rife on a ledge in the rocks
The finest OF the herd was a bit ahead
OF the rest and upon him ! determined
10 try my maiden effort, but, from ex-
element, II was some time before could
see my sights clearly. At last | fired
and the old buck gave a tremendous leap
into the air and fell dead almost where
he had been standing. The rest raised
their heads In the air In alarm and re-
manned stock stili for n few seconds be-
fore they raced OF time enough for me
10 gct on 10 the nearest with my left
barrel. only 10 miss Ia the most egreRl-
Gus manner. But what did ] carer Had
! not got the most magnificent head with
my FIRST shot on virtually my first day's
stalklngY-luck that does not happen 10
every man. almost embraced JshAn
Khan. who WAS very nearly as excited
ana pleased ~ myself though he al
nuitfr fomothing about u being r. pity
that 40 hhd not got ihe other ono nisO
vs. fDund The Ola buck lyihg On he lido.
VIC lnti funicient movement iaft 20 jus
NY iehan Khan IN performing the ma
iaL'' namely, iD outtin6 tAe animals