I90 NYAN (OVIS AMMON) SHOOTING 



nevertheless very alarming. A brisk shower followed, 

 and I was quite drenched, even through my greatcoat, 

 before I could reach the dead ram. The stalk thus ended 

 in very grand style indeed, and amid characteristic Tibetan 

 surroundings : wild ravines on all sides, the heavens dark 

 with thunder-clouds. The ram was a splendid fellow, with 

 horns of thirty-nine inches. My gratification was complete 

 when the boy informed me that the big camp in the 

 Dong-lung was not far off ! It was, in fact, hardly a mile 

 away, and we reached it within half an hour of firing the 

 only shot of the day. I tipped that boy every time we 

 stood together over a slain ram, and he was now the proud 

 possessor of three rupees — more money than had ever 

 rested on his palm before. His enthusiasm was boundless, 

 and he seemed ready to lead me after nyan to the farther- 

 most limits of Tibet. Everyone in camp that evening was 

 happy. The postman had arrived a short time before me, 

 and nyan-mutton was boiling in the brass pots of the yak- 

 men before the sun had set, so we were all suited according 

 to our several tastes. It was a brilliant evening : the 



O 



clouds had cleared away, only a gentle breeze was blowing, 

 and the air was just cold enough to be bracing. 



I remained in these shooting grounds for one week, and 

 during that time had very bad luck indeed. On three 

 occasions, after long and painful stalks, my labour was 

 lost, owing to the utter perversity of kiangs, who were 

 fifty times more numerous than the Ovis ammon, and 

 were always turning up at the critical moment. Once I 

 was just getting within range of two fine rams, when a 

 solitary kiang lunatic turned up on my right front, got 

 well above me, and began to snort and trot to and fro, 

 with his ears cocked and his tail in the air, cutting a most 

 ludicrous figure. We had to lie flat for an hour while 

 this wild jackass was satisfying his curiosity. He was 



