YAKS. 149 



Chapter X— YAKS. 



The Tibet Mission of 1904 had three Yak Corps of approxi- 

 mately one thousand Yaks each, and only 70 survived. Anthrax. 

 Rinderpest, Pleuro- pneumonia, Foot - and - Mouth Disease, 

 Debility consequent on work in too low an altitude, and bolting 

 into the jungle, disposed of the remaindsr. A pure Yak (one- 

 third of them only were pure bred, the rest being Zooms, or 

 half-breds) cannot live in low regions. Tibetans seldom ask 

 them to go below 8000 feet. They were down to 2300 feet at 

 times, and under such circumstances a pure yak will pant, and 

 lie down every few yards, and rapid emaciation ensues. 



Yaks are useless as transport animals. They can only travel 

 from six to eight miles per day, require two days a week rest, 

 and an enormous amount of grazing. Two maunds is all that 

 a yak can carry, and if pushed beyond his pace he lies down 

 and sulks. His habits are distinctly lazy, but when compelled 

 to go he is sure of foot, and can negotiate the roughest cliffs 

 possible. 



Chapter XI— CAMELS. 



Cyrus the Great of Persia (559 B.C.) had great ideas of 

 Tactics. At the battle of Thymbra, fearing the superiority of 

 the Cavalry of Croesus, which had a reputation for the skilful 

 use of the long lance and for the adroitness with which they 

 managed their horses, he mounted his Cavalrymen on his 

 baggage camels, and placed them in the first line. The horses 

 of the Lydian Cavalry were so alarmed at the appearance and 

 smell of the camels that they recoiled in confusion, and although 

 the Lydians dismounted and engaged the Infantry of Croesus, 

 they were defeated. 



The above is certainly a unique utilisation of the camel, and 

 it is distinctly worthy of special record in the merits of that 

 animal. 



The uses to which camels are put in the Army relate chiefly 

 to riding, and pack transport. On certain occasions they have 



