THE MONGOLS OF TSAIDAM 1091 
least attack each yak, so as to have one or more guns 
in reserve in case the beast turns upon the hunter. 
The yak-hunters were in “fine form,” all cheerful and 
in good humour. It is easy to imagine that this autumn 
excursion made an agreeable break in their otherwise 
monotonous life. The season lasts about a month. Each 
hunting party has its own well recognized hunting-grounds. 
The hunters live in the open air, without tent, their only 
encumbrances being- the clothes they wear, their saddles, 
ROCKS AT HARATO, IN THE VALLEY OF THE YIKEH-TSOHAN-GOL 
muskets, and a small supply of provisions in leathern 
knapsacks. 
The men and woman of the party we met encamped 
in the bushes beside my tent ; that is to say, they made 
a fire between three stones, and hung over it the cooking- 
pot filled with water. When I stepped into a vacant 
place in the circle round the fire, I was received with 
a friendly "Amir sdn ?” {How are you getting on ?). 
When the water began to boil, one of the older men 
produced six wooden bowls from a bag and distributed 
them amongst the party ; after that he gave each person 
a portion of barley-meal, and then added to it a few slices 
of a sausage made of mutton lard. As soon as that was 
