INDIAN SHOOTING 361 



LII. KYANG {Eqitus hemionus) 

 Thibet ' Kyajig^ 



The kyang was doubtless originally intended by Providence 

 to fulfil some good purpose, but having turned out a failure 

 was located in Thibet, where it was probably considered it 

 would not be much in the way ; or else it was designed to 

 take the place of the insect life on the lower ranges and act 

 as a blister on the temper of the sportsman. The shapoo, limb 

 of the devil as it is, has some good points in its favour — e.g. a 

 graceful carriage, fine horns, and it is a desirable acquisition to 

 the bag. The kyang has nothing to recommend or excuse it. 

 It is an ugly, donkeyfied, fiddle-headed brute, with straight 

 shoulders. In colour it is a mealy bay with a dark- brown hog 

 mane, dorsal stripe and tail. Its head and ears are coarse and 

 large, and its screeching bray is as unpleasant as its general 

 appearance. Being absolutely worthless to shoot, it is always 

 trading on that fact, and on the utterly false pretence that it 

 is deeply interested in the actions and habits of human 

 beings, particularly Europeans, is for ever thrusting itself into 

 society where it is not welcome, thereby spoiling the sports- 

 man's chance of a quiet interview with the animal of his choice. 

 The one trait in its character that might be reckoned as a palli- 

 ation by an unduly benevolent commentator is that it appears 

 not to be selfish. As soon as it thinks it has got a sportsman's 

 temper well under way, it will scour the country round for all 

 its friends and relations, and assemble them to enjoy together 

 the interesting spectacle of an angry man armed with a rifle 

 that he dare not discharge for fear of alarming something worth 

 firing at. Hints and persuasion are thrown away, and nothing 

 but a declaration of war has the smallest effect on kyang. A 

 skilful diplomat may occasionally gain a temporary advantage 

 by misleading kyang as to his intended route — getting the 

 kyang, for instance, to believe that he wants to cross a par- 

 ticular pass, and then, by taking advantage of cover, escaping up 



