HUNTING IN CHINESE TARTARY. 



157 



THIBETAN WILD SHEEP. 



were very slippery and hard ; others, soft and knee-deep in 

 snow. An idea may be formed of the height we had to ascend, 

 and the nature of the ground which we traversed, when I 

 mention that we left our tents at seven A. M, and had not 

 arrived at the "sheep-walk" before one. 



Now commenced the difficulty. The burrul, from its well- 

 known and secluded habits, is a most difficult animal to ap- 

 proach. I was, however, rewarded for my labor. About two 

 o'clock we came upon the fresh marks of the flock ; we followed 

 them for some distance, but coming near a hot spring where 

 they had evidently been grazing, of course lost all farther 

 track. For the next hour I worked up one glacier, around 

 another, used my telescope, but could not discern any object, 

 suddenly one of the villagers called my attention to some- 

 thing above me. I looked up and beheld a pair of enormous 

 horns bending over. None of the body of the animal was then 

 visible. I now cautiously moved a short distance to the right, 

 when I had the satisfaction of seeing not only his horns, but 



14 



