ioi6 
THROUGH ASIA 
towards the south-east) by hills of red loess, gently 
rounded, but sterile. The ground however soon became 
so soft that the animals were scarcely able to plough their 
way along with their burdens ; we therefore turned up a 
side-glen to avoid it. The glen led us to a watershed, on 
the other side of which the drainage channels all flowed 
towards the east. There we were overtaken by the usual 
afternoon storm, which lasted an hour. 
All day long we had on our left, that is to the north, 
the spurs of the Arka-tagh, each spur being entirely free 
from snow. But from camp No. XIII., which we made 
on the sheltered side of a low hill, we beheld a glittering 
white double peak soaring above the tops of every other 
mountain. 
The region we were now travelling through swarmed 
with khulans (wild asses), but they kept at such a distance 
from us that all attempts to get a shot at them were 
unavailing. Yolldash however was of a different opinion. 
He galloped after them, and derived a never-ending- 
delight from putting them to flight. He repeated the 
manoeuvre time after time, and after every chase came 
back to the caravan, panting and puffing, and with his 
tongue hanging out. It was comical to watch him when 
he caught sight of a fresh troop of khulans. He pricked 
his ears, his eyes sparkled, and for a while he squatted 
down on his haunches and gazed at them fixedly, without 
moving, then he slowly stalked them for a while, and 
finally set off as hard as he could race, like an arrow from 
a bow. But no sooner did the shy animals catch sight of 
the dog than off they went with the speed of the wind, 
and in a few moments left their pursuer far behind them. 
Nor did Yolldash learn wisdom from experience. At the 
sight of the next troop off he went again, and so tired 
himself out to no purpose. 
When we drew near to the place where we intended 
to encamp for the night, I missed the dog. I thought 
that, as he was tired, he had perhaps joined the camel- 
caravan ; but the camel -caravan came in without him. 
The last time any of the men saw him, he disappeared 
