THE YAK. 85 



Two days afterwards, as we were returning down the valley, we came upon the fresh 

 traces of a bull (probably the same one), but though we followed the track at best pace 

 for fifteen or sixteen miles, we never came up with him, and we unfortunately had not 

 another day to spare. 



In 1862 I again went to Chung Chenmo on purpose for Yak, but, though I worked hard 

 for a fortnight, I never had the luck to see one. My friend H., who was with me, was more 

 fortunate ; he found Yak at once in the first valley he went to, and killed a fine bull and 

 a cow. 



In 1864 I reached Chung Chenmo on the 28th of May, thinking that I should have a 

 better chance early in the season — this I now believe to be a mistake. On my arrival I was 

 laid up for four days with a severe attack of fever and ague, but on recovering I at once 

 went up the Kyobrung valley. I had not gone above five miles when I discovered three 

 Yak on the opposite side of the river. I was not long in crossing, and had succeeded 

 in stalking to within two hundred yards, when the wind, which had been perfectly favorable, 

 suddenly veered round to the opposite point of the compass. The Yak at once scented 

 me and made off at full speed, and two or three wild shots which I fired after them were 

 ineffectual. I hunted for a fortnight in hopes of finding either those three Yak or others, 

 but I never even saw a fresh track, and at last left the valley in disgust. About three weeks 

 afterwards another Officer found a large herd on the same ground that I had unsuccessfully 

 hunted ! 



In 1865 I crossed the Chor Hoti Pass and hunted in the valley of the Sutlej. This 

 ground used to be a favorite resort of Yak, but I was informed by the Ni'ti Shikaris that 

 they had not been seen here for three or four years. An Officer who was just ahead of me 

 however, found three bulls, wounded, and lost one. With my usual luck I never saw one, 

 though I carefully hunted all the most likely places. I had intended to have crossed the 

 Sutlej, but my rascally Shikari would give me no assistance, and even, I believe, informed 

 the Tartars of my intentions. 



In 1870 I once more visited Chung Chenmo, resolving to hunt there as long as my leave 

 lasted, if I could not find Yak at once. I went up the valley of Kyobrung on the 26th of 

 June, but saw no recent traces of Yak either on that day or the following one. 



On the 28th, on reaching the mouth of a small lateral valley, I was delighted to see a 

 herd of Yak feeding on the grassy banks of the stream. It was impossible to stalk them 

 where they were, as the wind was at present unfavorable, and in a short time they went up 

 the stony hill-side above them and lay down on the shingle. I watched them all day, 

 expecting them to come down to feed in the afternoon, but they did not move until it was 

 very nearly dark, and then came down so slowly that I had to leave them and return to 

 camp, which was fortunately only about two miles off. I had counted the Yak and found 

 that there were fifteen of them, but all cows. 



Next morning I was up before daylight, and on reaching the valley where I had left 

 the Yak I saw the herd just leaving it. As they turned the corner to go up the next valley 

 I followed them, and, taking advantage of the inequalities of the ground, got within sixty 



