480 FROM NORTH POLE TO EQUATOR. 



A general, simultaneous bleating is the first expression of their 

 delight in their newly-recovered freedom; a short, quickly-repeated 

 shaking throws off the last recollections of their undignified servi- 

 tude ; and then they run off as quickly as possible, in the plains as 

 far away from the yurt as the herdsman allows, in the mountainous 

 districts towards the hills, as if they could only there breathe the air 

 of freedom. In reality they are longing to meet their young ones 

 as soon as possible. All day long they have been away from them, 

 but now, according to all their experience, the little ones must 

 appear. The sheep run about bleating continuously, and even the 

 intelligent goats look longingly all around as if they wished to find 

 out whether the expected flock is already on the way, or at least 

 whether it is visible in the far distance. The bleating grows louder 

 and louder, for every newly-released row excites all the sheep 

 assembled in the neighbourhood of the aul ; and the impatience of 

 the mothers, which is increasing every minute, finds vent in piteous, 

 almost moaning bleatings. The longer the suspense lasts the more 

 restless do the mothers become. Aimlessly they wander hither and 

 thither, sniff at every blade of grass on the way, but scarcely 

 crop any, lift their heads expectantly and joyously, let them droop 

 again in disappointed sadness, bleat, and bleat again. The restless- 

 ness increases almost to frenzy, the bleating becomes a perfect 

 bellowing. 



From the distance are heard weak, shrill, bleating sounds. They 

 do not escape the attentive ears of the mothers. A loud and simul- 

 taneous call from every throat is the answer; all the maternal 

 longing, increased to the utmost by the long waiting, is condensed 

 in a single cry. And from the distance, down from the hills towards 

 the yurt, the eager lambs and kids come rushing to find their 

 mothers; the biggest and strongest in front, the youngest and 

 weakest behind, but all hurrying, running and leaping, almost 

 enveloped in a cloud of dust; and stretching out into a longer 

 procession the nearer they approach their goal. An apparently 

 inextricable confusion arises, old and young, united at last, run 

 hither and thither, touching each other lightly as they pass, to 

 find out, by touch as well as by smell, whether they have found 



