I UNPLEASANT SENSATION. 239 



protuberance in each groin ; tail about four inches long and 

 tipped with white ; horns black and lyrate, two feet long, 

 set very erect and far forward on the forehead, and about a 

 foot apart at the tips, slightly curved forward, closely knotted 

 in front for two- thirds of their length from the base, and 

 smooth behind. The does, or what I took to be does, for I 

 never shot at them, appeared to be very similar in colour to 

 the bucks, but hornless, and without the black patch on the 

 face. A unicorn animal is said to be found farther north- 

 ward on these desert steppes, but I believe its existence to 

 be as fabulous as that of the equine creature represented to 

 the youthful imagination as fighting with the lion for the 

 crown. An antelope minus one of its horns may possibly 

 have given rise to the idea. It is also said that the camel 

 is found in a wild state farther north, within the territory 

 of Khoten. These antelopes usually frequent localities 

 where the ground is more or less level or undulating, and are 

 never found much below 15,000 feet, though they often 

 ascend the sloping faces of the mountains to much greater 

 heights, and particularly after being scared. Like all Tibetan 

 game, their powers of sight and scent are extremely acute. 

 Their flesh is tender and juicy. 



During the first night or two up here, and especially 

 towards morning, I experienced the uncomfortable sensation 

 of being unable to sufficiently inflate the lungs, which may 

 be described as a constant inclination to heave a deep-drawn 

 sigh. This was not to be surprised at, considering our camp 

 was at an elevation of 17,000 feet, calculated with a boil- 

 ing-point thermometer I had brought with me. It gradually 

 wore off, however, as I became more accustomed to passing 

 the night in such intensely cold and rarefied air. 



Whilst in this high valley, I, strange to say, never suffered 

 in the slightest degree from the nausea and headache I ex- 

 perienced on the open and tolerably level summits of the 

 Chang la and Marsemik, even when at as great altitudes. 

 Here I felt nothing more than shortness of breath when 



