A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



nothing but some Napoo ewes. The next day we 

 continued our way down the road that here runs 

 through a narrow ravine till it reaches the Indus 

 Valley ; the mountains on either side are precipitous, 

 and look as if made for Napoo. Here we were 

 caught up by my post coolie from Leh, who brought 

 not only letters and papers, but another proof of the 

 Joint-Commissioner's thoughtfulness and kindness in 

 the shape of a kilta full of potatoes. Amongst his 

 many trophies of the chase H. had secured, alive, a 

 young Thibetan lynx (Felis Isabellimis), in the 

 vernacular termed Ee. It was a cub, little bigger 

 than a cat, of a reddish colour, that showed darker 

 spots in certain lights, and had tufted ears, and 

 tremendously strong legs and paws ; sometimes he 

 was as playful as a kitten, but he used to get bored 

 when marching, as he travelled chained on to the 

 top of the baggage on a pony, which latter animal 

 master Ee would occasionally surprise by digging 

 his somewhat formidable claws into his neck as he 

 went along. On the top of the Polakonka Pass 

 the Ee was allowed to escape during a night march 

 (these animals are nocturnal in their habits, and get 

 very restless, like most carnivora, as soon as the 

 sun sets), but was luckily retrieved, as the chain 

 that was round his neck was seen by the man who 

 had been sent to recover him (and who, listening by 

 night, had been led to the spot by his cries) pro- 

 jecting from beneath the stone under which he had 



taken refuge. This Ee, which is a rare animal, is 



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