A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



makes an admirable post of observation, but though 

 we kept a sharp look-out all day, and sent watchers 

 in two opposite directions, we saw neither napoo 

 nor nyan. The camp was here pitched in a pleasant 

 valley, which was carpeted with the turf that grew 

 on both sides of the stream, and where there was 

 plenty of brushwood for firing an agreeable sur- 

 prise amongst the stony hills at this elevation. 

 Amongst the wild flowers that grow here, I noticed 

 a white dandelion, which was in great profusion, a 

 large yellow fumitory, and a blue monk's-hood. 



The following morning (August 4th) we crossed 

 the Kiameri-La, a very easy Pass, which is probably 

 between 16,000 and 17,000 feet high. On reaching 

 the top, one has a good view of the district of Tiri, 

 with a snow-clad spur on the right or southern side, 

 and some precipitous mountains, that shut in the 

 valley, to the north, towards the Indus. These 

 latter hills are very brilliant in colouring, a crimson 

 one with a stripe of slate-blue fading into violet 

 and green mixed being specially effective. We had 

 not gone far on the opposite side before Ullia espied 

 ten nyan rams across the valley, a very long way 

 off. The Ladakhis declared that they were Kyang 

 (wild asses), of which there are many hereabout ; 

 but I was positive that they were nyan, as I could 

 see their horns through my glasses, and asses have 

 not horns ! So we plunged hastily into the nalah 

 and encamped there. 



After a short time I ascended the gravelly down 



150 



