THE YAK. 251 



confident assurances of success, and said we must inevit- 

 ably find to-morrow. I turned in, in a snug bower which 

 Buddoo had constructed for me in the bushes. 



29th August. We were off again, ere the first blush 

 of dawn, and, entering a wide ravine, held our course up 

 it. Numerous tracks of yak were seen, but none fresh. 

 After two hours* gradual ascent came the pinch, a steep 

 slope up the mountain, on which, to our joy, we met with 

 fresh tracks, unmistakably fresh, and our spirits rose 

 accordingly. Our path lay up a wide ravine, penetrating 

 into the mountain- side, and giving entrance to a wide 

 basin-like indent, on the level bottom of which were 

 extensive patches of grass, on which were plainly visible 

 recent signs of yak. We crossed a steep rocky ridge, 

 abutting into the basin, and shutting one re-entering 

 angle from view, but, to our infinite chagrin, all was void 

 as before signs fresh and plentiful. Here we halted for 

 breakfast. 



It was now proposed to ascend one side enclosing this 

 basin, and, resting on the summit, examine the adjoining 

 ravines, and wait the probable appearance of yak, from 

 out some retreat or other, to feed on the grass below us. 

 We climbed accordingly, and found a yak path leading 

 over the ridge, and fresh signs of their passage. Here 

 we lay down some couple of hours. Looking about, I 

 saw a ravine towards which I felt sure the yak had gone, 

 from the converging tendency of their footprints, and 

 communicated my ideas to Phuttoo who made an exami- 

 nation, and confirmed my suspicions ; and we decided 

 that we would explore that spot after a while. Shortly 

 after came Subhan, all excitement and pleasure ; he had 

 from a high point, commanding the said ravine, therein 

 distinctly made out the objects of our search. Now all 

 was bustle and preparation. Subhan described the 



