A STALK 79 



an almost perpendicular stone shoot, or narrow 

 gully, which seamed one side of the spur and 

 descended in an unbroken drop for over a thousand 

 feet. We made out eight animals altogether 

 three bulls, three cows, and two calves. Two of 

 the bulls were sparring, while the calves played 

 about among the rocks. They were in a much 

 better position for a stalk than those which we 

 had previously seen. We accordingly decided to 

 go after them. An hour and a half later we 

 reached the summit of the mountain, attaining an 

 altitude, I suppose, of between 11,000 and 12,000 ft. 

 The ascent was very similar to the country over 

 which we had already come. In the saddles, open 

 grassy patches. Leaning on the stunted larches 

 which bordered the edge of these little glades 

 rested long roof poles and coffin boards, for the 

 country swarmed with woodcutters. No tree was 

 of any size, for in a country where fuel is precious 

 every large tree, with a happy disregard for the 

 future, is chopped down and cast into the fire. 

 Others are sliced into coffin boards and carried 

 down the hill-side on men's backs, and so by mule 

 to Sian-fu. Replanting is unheard of, and to 

 exemplify the deforestation of the hill- sides the first 

 remark a Chinaman will make on seeing any well- 

 timbered country which is new to him is, "Ah, 

 there are some good roof poles ! " or " What 

 splendid coffin boards ! " according as he is of an 

 optimistic or a pessimistic turn of mind. 



Conspicuous on one tree we passed was a notice 



in large Chinese characters imploring a thief who 



had stolen some roof poles to make restitution, the 



vengeance of the god of the mountain having been 



7 



