LARGE HERDS. 191 



Solitary yaks always trot, and never gallop more 

 than a few paces from the spot whence the}^ have 

 been disturbed. They may be easily overtaken by 

 a horseman, at whatever pace they may be going. 

 They climb nimbly over the loftiest and rockiest 

 mountains, and we have seen them in places where 

 no other animal, unless it were the kuku-yaman, 

 could find a footing. 



In winter large herds repair to the places 

 where pasturage is most abundant, while solitary 

 bulls or small troops may be seen in all parts. We 

 first saw single animals soon after crossing the 

 Burkhan Buddha, but it was not until we came to 

 the Baian-kara-ula, and particularly on the southern 

 slope of this range, that we saw herds of them, and 

 again, in the valley of the Murui-ussu ; previously 

 we had seen two small troops near the river Shuga. 



The Mongols told us that in summer, when the 

 tender young grass shoots up, large herds of yaks 

 visit the Burkhan Buddha, roaming from place to 

 place, but always returning for the winter to the 

 banks of the Murui-ussu ; old bulls, which dislike 

 making long journeys, remain all the year round at 

 the same place. Indolence is a prominent trait in 

 their character. They feed morning and evening, 

 passing the rest of the day in unbroken repose, 

 either lying or standing ; at such times the only sign 

 of life they show is in chewing the cud, otherwise 

 they are as motionless as statues, even keeping the 

 head in one position ; and this for hours together. 



They always select the coldest spot they can 



