820 
THROUGH ASIA 
remains to their camp-fire, in order to save the hide, 
and then went off and drove their sheep into the folds. 
In the meantime the tiger re-appeared and resumed his 
meal, although the cow was lying close to the fire. When 
he went away, the shepherds saw by his trail that he 
had gone down stream, i.e. northwards ; but after a few 
days he came back and struck across the desert towards 
the east. It is very seldom tigers are seen in those 
parts. 
This was very encouraging news ; for I thought that 
possibly the tiger might have come from Shah-yar on 
the Tarim, for in the woods there tigers are common. 
But the old man was doubtful about it ; and told us that 
to the north the sand was high, and that, even if there 
did exist a river called the Yarkand-daria or Tarim, it 
would certainly take us two or three months to reach it. 
