A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



remote ! To the south and west of Hanle extends 

 a considerable plain, watered by the river of the 

 same name, and surrounded by low sandy hills and 

 uplands, which are, in their turn, backed by snows. 

 It is an out-of-the-way corner of the world, and 

 enjoys about three months of summer, during 

 which period a snow-storm is not impossible or even 

 improbable ; what the climate must be during the 

 long winter months is too awful to contemplate. 

 There are fish in the river, and on his return journey 

 H. had some sport with them. 



As soon as we had pitched our tents at Hanle the 

 Chagzot, who had arrived on the previous day, sent 

 us a present of a sheep, some pubboos (native boots 

 of embroidered cloth of brilliant hues, with skin 

 soles), and, most welcome gift of all, some fresh 

 vegetables, in the shape of small turnips ; I don't 

 know whence these latter were obtained. He also 

 sent me a very old shikari, who had instructions to 

 take me to good ground for nyan, and whose son 

 accompanied H. This old man's name was Chering 

 Doorji, he had been employed by many "Sahibs" 

 who had visited these parts in days gone by, and had 

 stories without end to tell about them. He knew 

 every inch of the surrounding country, and, having 

 been told to show me good sport by his spiritual 

 chief, the Chagzot, did so in a very short time, as 

 will be seen. This fact was all the more fortunate 

 for me, as, had I been without an introduction of 



the sort, the Thibetans would have been far too lazy 



191 



