Across the Roof of the World. 



having wearied of life and whiteness, he passes to that bourn 

 whence there is no return. According to Numgoon the skin of 

 the latter is very valuable, and the Emperor of China, who 

 apparently has a very useful collection of furs, has only one of 

 these, so rare are they. 



IN THE PINE FORESTS OF THE THIAN SHAN. 



With regard to the wapiti, if he dies a natural death, he lives 

 for five centuries, at the end of which time he presumably quits 

 this mortal Hfe well stricken in years. I also asked Numgoon 

 about the trees in the forest and his opinion on the life of the 

 stately pine. His answer was that the fir and pine live a 

 thousand years, always provided nothing untoward happens, after 



