244 THE SADDLE ON YAK'S BACK. 



up the wounded buck. As I did not wish again to risk 

 disturbing the ground by shooting at him unless absolutely 

 necessary, he gave us a long chase before we caught him ; 

 fortunately he kept pretty straight down the glen. 



I had not made a halt since leaving Leh ; so, by way of 

 taking a much -needed rest, the next day was devoted to 

 dressing the antelope heads and working up some little 

 sketches I had made. 



On the following morning we started early to again try 

 our luck after the wild yaks. This time I took the pony, 

 to ride wherever the ground permitted ; and I would advise 

 any one who hunts in Tibet not to be too proud to do 

 likewise, for the work that must necessarily be done on foot, 

 when actually following game, will be found quite severe 

 enough up here, where your Tegs always feel as if weighted 

 with lead, without any extra and unnecessary toil when it 

 can be avoided. In the inhabited districts of this part of 

 Tibet a pony can generally be hired, which, as it seldom 

 wants any food but what it can pick up for itself, will be 

 much better suited for the work required of it than an 

 animal brought with one ; or a tame yak can be ridden 

 with much comfort, and its paces are smooth and easy. 

 But to proceed. 



We had not gone far when five buck tsos were descried 

 far away up on a sloping hillside ; but I had determined to 

 devote this day entirely to searching for dong, so we did 

 not attempt a stalk. 



Feeling much disappointed at again not finding any 

 dong in the glen, I sat myself down about a mile below 

 the pass, whilst I sent on a Tartar to prospect the country 

 beyond it. Nearly two hours went by without the re- 

 appearance of our scout. I had eaten my luncheon and 

 emptied my bottle of cold tea. The sun was far too power- 

 ful to allow of my taking a nap to pass the time, and there 

 was hardly a square inch of shade anywhere near to protect 

 us from its almost vertical rays. Another hour passed, and 



