1880.] R. Lydekker — On the Occurrence of tJte Music-Deer in Tibet. 5 



having a name for the animal, I was of opinion that the Musk-Deer must 

 occur somewhere in Tibet, though I had at that time no positive proofs to 

 offer. Lately, however, I have obtained such evidence as seems to leave 

 no doubt that this animal should be reckoned among the fauna of 

 Tibet. 



Firstly, it will, I think, be generally admitted that the musk-pods o£ 

 the Musk-Deer are an important article of export from Tibet to India.* 

 Although this affords ^rma/«c«e evidence that the Musk-Deer occurs in 

 Tibet, yet it might be objected that this musk Avas first taken from China 

 to Tibet, and thence exported through Nepal or Ladak to India ; I, there- 

 fore, now proceed to bring forward the more direct proofs of the occur- 

 rence of the animal in Tibet proper. 



The earliest evidence which I have to notice, is that of the great tra- 

 veller Marco Polo.f That writer mentions the occurrence of the Musk- 

 Deer at a place which he calls Ergiul, which Colonel Yule locates to the 

 north of Tibet, and south of the great Gobi desert, in latitude 40". From 

 Marco Polo's description, there can be no doubt of the identity of the ani- 

 mal referred to with the Musk-Deer, though he commits the error of men- 

 tioning a pair of lower as well as upper tusks. Again, the same traveller J 

 mentions the occurrence of the same animal in eastern Tibet, pi'obably 

 somewhere near the longitude of Lhasa, and also that the Tibetans call 

 the animal Gureri. 



A later traveller, Mr. Bogle, the envoy of Warren Hastings, describes § 

 most circumstantially the hunting and capture of a Musk-Deer (or, as he 

 calls it, Musk-Goat) at Rinjaitzay, which is situated north of the Tsanpii 

 river near Shigatze in Tibet. Mr. Bogle describes the animal as being 

 hornless, coated with stiff hair, and with tusks depending from the upper 

 jaw of the male : he also mentions that the Tibetan Musk-Deer is of a 

 lighter colour than the Musk-Deer of Bhutan. This description leaves no 

 possible doubt as to the animal referred to. 



General Cunningham || mentions that the Musk-Deer (known to the 

 Ladakis as La) is found in Tibet as well as in Kashmir. 



During the past summer, I met in Lahul with a Tibetan who had 

 formerly occupied a high official position at Lhasa, and who informed me, 



* Markham, ' Tibot.' Int. p. cxxii, p. 197. 



Hodgson ' Trade of Nepal.' 



Cimningham. ' Ladak,' p. 242. 

 t Yulo's ' Marco Polo,' Vol. I, p. 267. 

 X Yule, loc. cit., Vol. II, p. 37. 

 § Markham, loc. cit., p. 114. 

 II Loc. cit., p. 202. 



