222 DONG (WILD YAK) SHOOTING 



similarly shaped, but much longer in the body : they were 

 evidently specimens of Syrrhaptcs Tibetamis, the Tibetan 

 grouse. They are described by Bower in his book Across 

 Tibet (page 294). He tound these birds in this same 

 valley. 



At 12.30 we reached the opening of the Liingiin side 

 valley, our intended camping-place, and were making 

 eagerly for the opposite side, where there was a stream, 

 when, looking up the valley, Paljour made out a dark 

 object about a mile off: the glasses showed it to be a 

 dong. Here was a fix ! I was dead tired with seven 

 hours' tramping, had had no breakfast yet, and now a 

 tremendous stalk (the wind was wrong, as usual) had to be 

 undertaken at once. We went back on our tracks a bit, 

 and, after a hurried snack, began the ascent of the hill. 

 We had to go to the very sky-line before we could cross 

 over to the proper side for a safe and close approach. The 

 ascent took us fully two hours, and when we got into 

 position, about a hundred yards from the bull, he did 

 exactly what the first had done — lay down, facing us 

 straight ! I did the same, glad of a little rest to pull 

 myself together, while Paljour kept watch. Half an hour 

 passed, when the shikari said, " He is up." I raised myself 

 and saw the bull going fast up the side valley, in which 

 he had been sleeping — no doubt he had got a puff of our 

 wind, and was alarmed. I ran as fast as I could, and had 

 a snap-shot at 150 yards with the Winchester as the 

 bull climbed the hill in front. The shot turned him, and 

 from his sudden change of course I made certain he was 

 hit : he turned quite suddenly, and came in a curve to our 

 right, and above us. I imagined that he could no longer 

 ascend on account of his wound, like the Keipsang bull. 

 As he made this curve, I had time to put in four more 

 shots with the double Express, but at very long ranges. 



