On the "Roof of the World " 1 63 



lively free. From an equestrian point of view the 

 yalcs failings are counterbalanced by a good many 

 useful qualities. He is unequalled on steep ground, 

 and at great altitudes he will plough steadily 

 through a depth of snow in which ponies would 

 flounder hopelessly, and finally, he can carry a 

 great weight of impedimenta in addition to his 

 rider. Against this he has a tendency to foot- 

 soreness, a phlegmatic nature which nothing can 

 rouse, and an irritating way of panting and grind- 

 ing his teeth. His straight shoulders and low-set- 

 on head arouse in his rider, when descending a 

 steep slope, most unpleasant expectations of the 

 result of a slip on a rolling stone. This is bad 

 enough at his usual slow pace, but when, as has 

 sometimes been known, he (figuratively speaking) 

 takes the bit between his teeth and bolts down a 

 steep and rocky mountain - side, it is difficult to 

 imagine a more undesirable position than that of 

 the individual on his back. 



As dawn breaks, the air seems to grow more and 

 more intensely cold. Presently the grey sky turns 

 blue ; the sun has risen somewhere. His yellow 

 beams soon strike the mountain - tops, and we 

 watch the line of light creep slowly down the long 

 white slopes towards us. About this time the yaks 

 are left behind and we begin ascending to points 

 from which a wider view can be obtained. Stalk- 



