648 
THROUGH ASIA 
his strength, and finally his life, to help me out of an 
awkward predicament. 
H is travelling - companion, the young camel, Chong- 
sarik, a giant of his kind, which Ahmed the Hunter had 
caught in the forest, left his manger and walked across to 
the white camel, and regarded him attentively with a look 
of wonderment. Then he quietly walked back to his 
manger, and with an unimpaired appetite went on munch- 
ing the green sappy grass with which it was filled. He 
was the last of the eight. I had not the heart to sell him 
without knowing into whose hands he would fall. The 
custodian of the serai was of opinion, that he too would 
soon succumb to the hardships and privations he had 
undergone. Finally I gave him as a present to Moham- 
med Emin, on condition that he should be allowed to 
graze all summer on the fat meadows at the foot of the 
Tengri-khan. 
