86 BEASTS AND MEN 
were undertaken solely in order to kill game for food; and in 
all the proceedings which were taken they had to be instructed 
beforehand by the leader. Since only young animals were 
wanted, watch had to be kept to ascertain when they had 
become fairly independent of their dams ; and it was found 
that the proper time for starting the hunt was during the 
first half of May. : 
Observation showed that there were no less than three 
varieties of the wild horse in the neighbourhood, closely 
resembling one another in form but showing differences of 
colour. They all have wavy hair over the body and legs, and 
blackish eyes, while in the foals the colour is variable. The 
wild horse wanders about in herds of twelve to fifteen; but 
even in this district it is not very numerous. 
As compared with the prolonged preparations which 
were necessary, the actual catching presented but little 
difficulty. The method employed was that which has al- 
ready been mentioned as being the usual method, when 
young animals only are to be caught. It is a habit of the 
creatures to rest for some hours during the daytime in the 
vicinity of the drinking-place. The Mongolians were in- 
structed to séize this opportunity of stalking them with their 
own horses. Then at a given signal the whole company break 
into shouts and yells; and mounting their horses dash upon 
the herd. The latter spring up in alarm and gallop off into the 
steppes, leaving behind them nothing but a cloud of dust. 
The Mongolians give chase, and after a time brown specks 
are seen at intervals in the dust-cloud. As the chase con- 
tinues the specks become larger and turn out to be the foals, 
which are unable to keep up with the older members of the 
herd. When at last the foals are quite worn out, they stand 
still, their nostrils swelling and their flanks heaving with 
exhaustion and terror. All the pursuers have then to do 
is to slip over their necks a noose attached to the end of a 
long pole, and conduct them back to camp. Here there 
are in readiness :a number of tame mares with sucking 
