HUNTING IN CHINESE TARTARY. 153 



Having, in my numerous excursions into the hills, obtained 

 some very vague information from the many villagers I came 

 in contact with, that they had often heard from parties re- 

 siding near the snow that there was an animal to be found 

 there strongly resembling the famous sheep, (Ovis Burrul,) I 

 determined upon dispatching Jye Sing and Buctoo to those 

 regions, to obtain all the precise information that might be 

 available, cautioning them not to return without either hav- 

 ing seen the animal, or bringing me some proof of its exist- 

 ence, and further promising them a handsome present, if they 

 brought me satisfactory information. They were absent two 

 months, and returned with some most marvellous stories about 

 what they had seen and heard, and, as a proof of the exist- 

 ence of the animal, brought me the horn of a wild sheep they 

 had picked up in one of the valleys in the snow, after an 

 avalanche had melted. This physical fragment at once removed 

 all my doubts, the horn being different from that of any tame 

 sheep. I was now wound up to the highest pitch of hopeful 

 excitement ; my marching establishment was soon put in order, 

 and we started on the following day. Fifteen forced marches 



