YAK SHOOTING IN THIBET. 137 
follow us onthe 29th, Our first pass, the Chongla, which is about 18,000 feet, 
we found easy going and free from snow. For a wonder I did not suffer 
from mountain sickness, to which I am rather a martyr, I had taken a large 
dose of chlorate of potash as an experiment, and certainly found it most 
effective asa preventative. Gerry opened the ball by potting a marmot at 
about 100 yards with his Mannlicker, which was tidy shooting, The next 
day we dropped down to 13,000 feet, and found it very hot at a place called 
Tanksi, where Morse joined us in the evening with bis caravan, During the 
march we had a good view through the glasses of a peculiar beast in the 
shape of a purely black wolf, We watched him fora long time, but could 
not get ashotat him. Much to our disgust we had to wait two days at 
Tanksi before we could collect what grain we required, Gerry and I 
had a long day’s prospecting, but only bagged a small Burrhel. Cultivation 
we found very scare, and what little there was of it was carried on 
by means of irrigation, while the vegetation consisted of afew stunted 
willows and patches of poplars, the rest of the country being rocks and 
sand, 
Having collected our supply of grain, we started for good and all on August 
Ist, and it may be as well now to describe our caravan. It was made up of 
Gerry and myself with 19 engaged caravan drivers, and our cook, We had 42 
ponies, of which 12 were hired at 12 annas per march of 15 miles ; 50 trans- 
port Yaks, hired at 8 annas per march with 15 drivers ; 10 goats for milk, 
10 sheep, and last but not least, my Pamir dog, Of the 50 Yaks, 20 carried 
grain for the ponies, the remainder were brought by the contractor to 
supply the places of lame or sick beasts. Hach Yak was loaded with 240 lbs, 
I may say here that at every camp after crossing the Thibetan frontier we 
buried grain and other supplies; so that on our return journey we had 
only personal baggage and trophies to carry. Our object in doing so 
was two-fold : firstly, to enable us to travel light, and secondly, to secure 
for ourselves a line of retreat in the event of any opposition from 
the natives. We found on digging it up that, owing to the dryness 
of the soil, the grain had not suffered in the slightest degree. Our first 
march was to Chucker Talow lake, over a good road, and the following 
day, from the ridge overlooking the village of Proprang, we had a magnifi- 
cent view of the Pangong lake. We were many miles away from it, but on 
account of the elevation and the remarkably clear atmosphere we could see 
it stretching away for about 50 miles, making a glorious picture with the 
deep sea-green colour of the water, in which the snow-capped mountains 
were reflected, contrasting with the dull red of the cliffs and the hills 
surrounding it, We were anxious to procure some fresh meat for the 
caravan drivers, and on the next day, after crossing the Marmuchla Pass, 
we saw a herd of Kyang or wild asses, one of which I shot, The idea 
of eating an ass is not nice. I have had to do so on one occasion, and found 
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