316 THE SADDLE ON YAK'S BACK. 



He jumped up quite close to us, and turning round within 

 an easy stone's - throw, stood gazing at us for some time 

 as if with much wonder at our presence in this high soli- 

 tude. 



It was now late in the afternoon, and we were at least 

 eight miles from our camp, so we returned to try and pick up 

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

 turbing 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 legs 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. 



