268 A CHINESE OUTPOST. 



banks of bright - green turf, down through the otherwise 

 almost verdureless valley. Our pass, however, led over a 

 depression at the top of a high stony acclivity on the left of 

 the glen, where the steep mountain-slopes on either side 

 approached each other more closely, five or six miles short 

 of the glaciers. 



Among some broken raviny ground in the valley I found 

 a herd of several goa, and farther on a solitary doe. The 

 former made off without giving me a chance ; the latter, 

 although offering an easy shot, I did not molest, for which 

 she afterwards served me a good turn in a rather singular 

 manner. 



On nearing the top of the pass I observed several men 

 sitting behind the shelter of a big stone. These, my Tartar 

 companions (one of whom was our interpreter Kurreem) in- 

 formed me, were " Cheen log " (Chinese people)-, who were 

 keeping watch and ward there, having probably heard that 

 two Europeans were encamped in the vicinity. As we ap- 

 proached, they retired out of sight ; but on arriving at the 

 summit, one of them suddenly reappeared and squatted him- 

 self on the ground some distance from us. On getting up 

 to him, a rather animated conversation was commenced be- 

 tween him and my men, who informed me that he was re- 

 monstrating against our proceeding any farther. On it being 

 explained to him that we had no intention of invading his 

 country, he seemed satisfied ; but on my moving forward a 

 short distance down the gently sloping Chinese side of the 

 pass, in order to obtain a better view of the country beyond 

 it, I fancy his suspicions were aroused, for, although he 

 offered no further remonstrance, he proceeded to tell us, 

 witli a view to intimidation I suppose, that some more men 

 would soon be up to join him. 



I now sat down to wait until the Major should arrive. A 

 quarter of an hour had scarcely elapsed when the clatter of 

 horses' hoofs, and the jingle of the little bells that are always 

 attached to the Tibetan bridles, were heard coining up the 



