290 SPORT, TRAVEL, AND ADVENTURE 



pointed out to me, I reached, in about five hours, a 

 pool of muddy water, which I supposed indicated the 

 spot intended by the Tibetan for our camping-ground. 

 After a light repast of bread and meat with muddy 

 water, I set out to climb the. adjacent mountain, hoping 

 to obtain a good view from the top ; but here the 

 prospect was interrupted by other hills, and it was 

 not till I had climbed another and then a third summit 

 that I could survey the region. Through the clear 

 mountain air I could see in the far distance kyang and 

 antelopes, but neither near nor far off were there any 

 signs of mules or ponies. Water, as I understood, 

 could only be found on the proper route. There was 

 abundance of water at the spot where I had halted, 

 and I could not suppose that I had taken the wrong 

 course. I filled my bottle from the pool and started 

 to look for the caravan. It seemed most probable 

 that it was moving along a neighbouring valley which 

 I hoped to cross before daylight failed. I pushed on, 

 but could see no living thing except kyang", which in- 

 quisitively circled about me ; and before I had gained 

 the near side of the valley darkness overtook me. The 

 place was bleak and barren, producing not even the 

 familiar boortza, which would have served at least for 

 fuel. I had no food, and no drink but muddy water, 

 I could light no fire for warmth or for signal, and 

 in these circumstances I had to face the unpleasant 

 fact that I was lost. 



My first thought was to seek protection from the 

 cold wind in some dry watercourse, where I might 

 sleep till the moon rose ; but this purpose had to be 

 abandoned owing to the lowness of the temperature, 

 which chilled me and kept me awake. In the course 



