TIBETAN SPORTING DOGS. 331 



visible, and that each year it is gradually becoming more 

 exposed. The water, although clear as crystal, is quite un- 

 drinkable, from having an intensely salt and bitter taste. 



I had been told of a good locality for finding the big rams 

 on the Chinese frontier eastward of Chooshul; but as the 

 same ground had also been recommended to the Major, I 

 relinquished my intention of hunting it at present in his 

 favour. After replenishing our supply of flour and changing 

 our baggage-yaks at the hamlet, the Major proceeded to work 

 the undulating hills in the vicinity of the Pangoor tso, a more 

 elevated but much smaller salt lake than the Pangong, some 

 ten miles east of Chooshul. As I was feeling rather " out of 

 sorts," I delayed my start in a more southerly direction for 

 a few days. Changter recommended my taking two or three 

 dogs and their owner with me from here, as being useful for 

 hunting napoo (Ovis nahura) the burrel or blue wild sheep 

 of the Himalayas which he said we might also find on the 

 ground he recommended my hunting over for Oves Ammon. 

 They were ugly, half-starved-looking curs, but doubtless were 

 well up to the work for which they were intended being 

 trained to hunt down their quarry as the ibex dogs are in the 

 Cashmere mountains. It turned out, however, that I nearly had 

 cause to repent having taken them, as will presently be seen. 



After three days' rest I was fit enough to set out again, 

 under Changter's guidance ; so the baggage -animals were 

 collected and packed. As yaks are sometimes apt to make 

 free use of their horns, especially towards strangers, loading 

 them is not always an easy job. The Tartars usually collect 

 them in a ring, with their heads turned inwards, and their 

 horns tied together until all are laden, when they are again 

 set free and driven on their way. 



Our route led over a low pass, or what looked a low one 

 from the open level ground around Chooshul, which was 

 already about 14,000 feet, but the ascent to it was . pretty 

 steep. On reaching the summit, a lonesome picture of flood 



