1850.] Report on the Valley of Spiti. 441 



Yaks. — The Yak is a highly useful animal ; with it they plough, 

 carry loads, and it furnishes milk, and hair for their ropes. 



In the severest weather, this animal appears to enjoy itself in the 

 snow, and it is often to be seen with icicles, of several inches in length, 

 hanging to its nose, and a foot or more of ice hanging to the hair 

 falling from its neck and shoulders. Long hair hangs over the eyes, 

 and prevents their freezing. 



Number of Ydks> Jabbus, Cows and Ghoonts, — Chinese breed. 

 The total number of Yaks in Spiti is 439 : and of Jabbus and Cows 

 412. The Ghoont, although an useful animal, seldom carries any 

 burden but a man; the total number in Spiti is 365, but bred 

 chiefly for sale. They have two breeds, one a small Ghoont, never 

 above 12 hands high, peculiar to the country. The other a large 

 breed of Ghoonts, from 13 to 13£ hands high, is bought from the 

 Chinese, and usually comes from "Chumurti." For a Chinese 

 Ghoont two years old, they give a four year old Spiti Ghoont. All are 

 equally hardy, and are kept out the whole winter, — all except the year- 

 lings, which are housed. During winter, the Ghoonts live entirely upon 

 the roots of stunted bushes, and are very expert at scraping the snow 

 from off them with their fore feet. 



But little attention, except in a few cases, is paid to the breeding of 

 these Ghoonts ; a certain number of entire Ghoonts are turned loose 

 amongst the mares, and the sire of a foal is seldom known. Such as 

 are not required for breeding, are castrated when between two and three 

 years of age. 



The right of castration has usually been the right of one person, 

 given under a seal from Ladak. 



The breed of Ghoonts with a little care might be considerably 

 improved. Many are killed during winter by wolves and leopards, and 

 I saw some which had been much lacerated, but escaped. 



Asses. — The ass is also an useful animal, and is of a peculiarly 

 strong breed, not in general large, but with powerful limbs; they 

 are chiefly employed to carry firewood, and are said to be able to go 

 wherever a sheep can : their milk is also drunk. The total number in 

 Spiti is 79. 



Sheep and Goats. — The sheep appear to be of two distinct breeds ; 

 the common one produces the fine " Bianghy" wool, the other is 



