FIRST NYAN HUNT 171 



not preserve the skull ; but I kept the skin, and sent it 

 afterwards to Mr. Sclater of the Calcutta Museum, who in- 

 formed me that the animal was the black wolf of Tibet 

 (Canis nigcr). This valley is called rhia-li'ing (marmot 

 valley). 



On the 1st of July I started for my first regular hunt 

 after nyan, leaving most of my traps in the main valley. 

 I spent five days to the west of the Phia-lung across the 

 dividing ridge, but had no success whatever. There are a 

 number of frozen lakes in the valley I visited, joined by tiny 

 streamlets. The lakes, from all appearances, seemed to l)e 

 constantly frozen, A few feet of ice along the margin thaws 

 for a few hours during the day, but hardens again towards 

 evening : I could not see any outlet to the waters. These 

 curious mountain tarns are frequently found among these 

 ranges. Are they the remains of glaciers ? I examined 

 the grassy plains about these pieces of water and the sur- 

 rounding hillsides with the glasses for an hour ; they were 

 the most likely places for game, but I could discover only 

 two kiangs. The guide with roe made an awkward discovery 

 here : after topping a ridge, he looked about, and then 

 announced the fact that we were on the wrong side, that 

 is to say, on the Shushal side of the pass — we had crossed 

 the dividing range when going down to the frozen lakes. 

 My heart misgave me when I saw the stream running 

 north, and could view the country right down to Shushal, 

 not more than fifteen miles off". I sent the coolie oil' at 

 once to brino; the little tent, and went down to the foot 

 of the pass to await its arrival. This saved us a long 

 and useless trudge to the shooting in front of us. On 

 the level plain, near the foot of the pass, we found a 

 Tibetan tent and a few goats. The wandering shepherd 

 was very kind, and we soon had a roaring fire of yak's 

 dung and turf. This lonely shepherd had a deaf wife 



