Ii8 THE FORESTS OF UPPER INDIA 



rush for every clump and take a mouthful. It was a 

 sort of ' sheep fescue ' grass like the Festuca ovina of 

 Europe. 



Here for the first time we saw the kiang, or wild horse. 

 Several herds came to look at us as we marched, and 

 galloped around, neighing and kicking up, but kept a 

 respectful distance. They have big ugly heads, and tails 

 and ears like mules, and a black stripe dov/n the back ; 

 colour light bay with white noses. They have fine free 

 action in the trot and gallop, and are fourteen to fifteen 

 hands high, strong in the leg, and heavy in the body. 

 We also were frequently saluted by marmots,* which 

 screeched at us from their earths, standing on their 

 tails, but nearly always scuttling into their holes before 

 one could get a shot. They are not bad to eat, and have 

 nice yellow skins. 



Next day we marched twelve miles to the entrance of the 

 pass. Here the country became wilder, snow-clad hills 

 shining in their spotless whiteness against the sky, and 

 we got glimpses of the five peaks of Gurla Mandhata 

 towering to our left. 



We ascended gradually and camped by a stream, in a 

 valley below the snow. Elevation by the thermometer 

 over 18,000 feet. The animals had but scant pasturage, 

 and the carriers were much exhausted. They cooked 

 themselves, however, a good meal in preparation for the 

 next day, which was to be a long march over the pass. 

 The night was fine but cold (about 25° Fahrenheit), and 

 we struck camp at 5 a.m., soon getting on to snow, which 



* Described as Ardomys hemachalamus by Jerdon. It is larger 

 than the marmot of the Alps, and fully double the size of the American 

 prairie marmot. I have seen the three species in their native haunts, 

 and, except in the matter of size, they are very much alike. Their 

 burrows are like badger- earths, and they collect grass and make hay 

 and store it underground for the winter. 



