THI-: BIG GAMK OF WKSTKRX CHINA. 249 



I 



small "grass-deer," wolves, and foxes were common locally. 

 Around Choni, however, to the south of the Tow river, 

 which forms a very natural geographical as well as physical 

 barrier between China and Tibet, the aspect of the country 

 changed entirely. Here were high mountains rising tier 

 beyond tier till they gradually topped the snow line at perhaps 

 18,000 feet, where the Pei-ling range itself rose up like a wall 

 of rock. The north slopes of these mountains were covered 

 with fir forests, though the exposed Southern slopes were too 

 dry to support tree growth. Towards the heads of the 

 tributary valleys the streams bored through magnificent 

 gorges, for the mountains were built up mainly of limestone 

 (on a base of metamorphic rocks) which showed up in 

 wonderful cliff's and towers. Higher up in the Fen-tsi 

 country beyond the rim of the grass plateau, the Tow itself 

 flowed between high forested cliffs of metamorphic rocks 

 which had been buckledand crumpled in a most extraordinary 

 way by colossal subterranean forces. All was now under 

 snow, and a more beautiful sight than these great mountains 

 with the sweeps of fir trees daintily festooned with dazzling 

 streamers of snow, the gaunt cliffs and towers of limestone 

 rising behind, and the grey ribbon of water crashing between 

 its ice-choked banks, it would be difficult to imagine. In the 

 lower, warmer valleys not above 10,000 feet were the ma-lo 

 or "horse-deer" (Cerrns Davitfianus) already referred to. 

 They kept clear of the forests, wandering over the grass- 

 covered hills and keeping a sharp look-out. We saw three 

 together one morning, but as they saw lisas soqn as we saw 

 them, they were scampering up the hillside as soon as we 

 located them, and one might as well try to catch up with a 

 race horse as with a ma-lo. On another occasion we saw 

 five in a bunch at fairly close quarters: that was in the 

 thickets, but we hadn't a gun, and they couldn't wait. 



The most enigmatical animal of these forested mountains 

 was one of which we were shown the photograph by a mission- 

 ary in Tow-cho\v:he had shotit himselfa coupleof yearspre- 

 viously, but was unable to tell us what it was: and with only a 

 photograph to go upon, I can furnish but meagre information 

 for purposes of identification, nor have I any more idea now 

 than I had then as to what the beast really is. It may be 

 described as a maned goat, the long mane being indeed the 

 most conspicuous and extraordinary characteristic of the 

 animal : perhaps the size of the goral already spoken of, or 

 rather smaller, with shorthorns, projecting straight upwards 

 and backwards as in that animal a hollow-horned ruminant 

 anyhow. Its colour appeared to be black and white and its 

 hair was distinctly long even for a goat. The animal is by 

 no means common I believe, and I have failed to identify it 



