ITS USES. 117 



The yak not only supplies fine wool, milk, and 

 butter, but is a most useful beast of burden. It 

 certainly requires skill and some patience to fasten 

 the load on his back ; but when this difficulty is 

 overcome, he will carry at least two cwt. over lofty 

 precipitous mountains, by the most dangerous paths, 

 climbing ledges of rock where a goat or wild sheep 

 would hardly keep its footing. In the country of 

 the Tangutans, where camels are scarce, the yak is 

 almost the only substitute, and large caravans of 

 these animals are annually sent from Koko-nor to 

 Lhassa. 



In Kan-su herds of yaks roam almost at liberty 

 over the pastures, being driven in at night to the 

 tents of their owners. Yak milk is delicious, and as 

 rich as cream ; the butter made from it is yellow and 

 far superior to that made from cows' milk. In fact 

 the yak is a most valuable beast, and should be en- 

 couraged in Siberia and in those parts of European 

 Russia suitable to its habits, the Ural mountains for 

 instance, or the Caucasus, where it could be acclima- 

 tized Avithout great difficulty. Any number of yaks 

 may be purchased at Urga at 5/. a head; and they 

 could be driven to Russia at a small expense. 



The Tangutans ride the yak, guiding it by means 

 of a rope attached to a brge wooden ring inserted in 

 its nostrils. The cross-breed of the yak bull and do- 

 mestic cow,^ called by the natives khainik, is stronger, 

 more hardy, and therefore more valuable. 



• This valuable cross is also mentioned by Marco Polo, in his 

 account of Tangul (2d. cd. 1. 266). It is in use also on the Indian side 

 of Tibet.— Y. 



