158 THE FORESTS OF UPPER INDIA 



and rocks at a frantic gallop. On one occasion the pur- 

 sued, who wanted a little rest, took to the steepest rocky 

 precipices and distanced his pursuer, following the sheep 

 paths on the face of the hill. The enemy kept pressing 

 after him till eventually he could not go forward or turn 

 backward to meet his pursuer. I watched him with the 

 glasses, and saw the brute deliberately jump from the 

 point of a jutting rock and go down into the abyss below. 

 The precipice looked to be a sheer drop with rocks below, 

 where was a stream hid from view. Into this he disap- 

 peared, and the other stood looking down, but failed to 

 follow. Not an hour afterwards they were at it again in 

 another place, screeching and hammering one another 

 with renewed fury. I shot one of these brutes to preserve 

 the peace, and his skull now hangs on my walls among the 

 other trophies. The one I chose to make an example of 

 was the bigger bully who funked the precipice. The 

 lesser one had shown such pluck in coming to the scratch 

 so often, and making the most appalling jump any horse 

 ever made and survived, that he deserved to be forgiven 

 for his otherwise disorderly behaviour. Henceforth he 

 no doubt became lord of that valley, and was treated with 

 proper respect both by the younger stallions and the mares 

 of the herd. 



The horrible roars and shrieking made by the wild horse 

 when fighting sound something like a noise between a 

 donkey's bray and the squealing of a jackal, but far more 

 ear-piercing and discordant. The kiang is found in con- 

 siderable numbers. He is, according to the Hunia 

 accounts, untamable. There was a young one purchased 

 at Bagesar fair from some Hunias for a small price. 

 The purchaser thought he had a good bargain, and pro- 

 posed to send the animal to England ; but when his men 

 went to bring away the purchase no power would induce 



