APPEARANCE OF THE WILD CAMEL. 169 



Such a journey as the one we have just men- 

 tioned, besides its geographical interest, would finally 

 set at rest the question of the existence of wild 

 camels and horses. The natives repeatedly told us 

 of the existence of both, and described them fully. 



According to our informants wild camels are 

 numerous in North-western Tsaidam, where the 

 country is barren, the soil being clay, overgrown with 

 biidarhana, and so destitute of water that they have to 

 go seventy miles to drink, and in winter are obliged 

 to satisfy their thirst with snow. 



The herds are small, averaging five to ten in 

 each, never more than twenty. Their appearance is 

 slightly different from the domesticated breed ; their 

 humps are smaller, the muzzle more pointed, and 

 the colour of the hair grey. 



The Mongols of Western Tsaidam hunt them 

 for the sake of their delicate flesh, especially in 

 autumn when they are fat. The hunters supply 

 themselves with ice to avoid perishing from thirst in 

 the wilderness. These camels cannot be very shy 

 if it be true that they may be killed with the match- 

 lock. They are described as wonderfully long-sighted 

 and keen-scented, but unable to see objects near 

 them. In February, during the pairing season, the 

 males become very bold and approach close to the 

 caravans passing from Tsaidam to Ngan-si-chau. 

 Caravan camels have been known to elope with their 

 wild mates, never returning to their owner. 



lies between that deduced by Pere Gaubil from a Chinese itinerary 

 based on Hami and Mr. Shaw's carefully drawn up itineraries con- 

 verging on that lake from several sides. See ^ Proceedings of the 

 Royal Geographical Society,' vol. xviii., No. i, note on page 83. — M. 



