. Wild oxen, sheep & goats of all lands, living and extinct . here the pasturage even in summerconsists only ot patches ot a coarse, wiry grass apparently ill-fitted tor tlienutriment ot herds ot such large animals. Nevertheless, both yak andargali thrive upon it ; and although in Ladak itself yak are now com-paratively tew, in Chinese territory they exist in great munbers, and aretound in herds numbering from ten to a hundred liead or more. The oldbulls are, however, for the most part solitary, or go about in small hands ofthree or four. Yak 57 As a compensation for its arid and desolate natu
. Wild oxen, sheep & goats of all lands, living and extinct . here the pasturage even in summerconsists only ot patches ot a coarse, wiry grass apparently ill-fitted tor tlienutriment ot herds ot such large animals. Nevertheless, both yak andargali thrive upon it ; and although in Ladak itself yak are now com-paratively tew, in Chinese territory they exist in great munbers, and aretound in herds numbering from ten to a hundred liead or more. The oldbulls are, however, for the most part solitary, or go about in small hands ofthree or four. Yak 57 As a compensation for its arid and desolate nature, the rock-scenery ofparts of the yak-country in Ladak is probably uns,urpassed in the world forbrilliancy of coloration. When to this is added the presence of a large sheetof water like the Pangkong lake, the whole effect is magnificent. Takinghis stand at the north-western extremity of the lake at Lukung, thetraveller has for foreground a smooth beach ot dazzling white sand, beyondwhich lies the broad expanse of the clear blue water of the mighty lake ;. c^- : _r_ Fi(i. lo.—^ wiui Vak-. Ituiu Da) op,I I l/l tit. Ill^llcl/uil ,J while, on either side, there rise rugged cliffs of brilliantly coloured slatyrocks. The contrast of the v/hite beach, blue water, and many-colouredbare rocks, shimmering in the dazzling light of the midday sun, has lelton my memory an impression never to be forgotten. Yak are in the habit of wandering for considerable distances ; and duringthe daytime are accustomed to repose on some steep and barren hillside,whence they can obtain a good view of the country. Their feeding-times,in Ladak at any rate, are chietiy the early mornings and evenings. Water 58 Oxen is essential to their well-being, and in winter they eat snow. In avoidingtheir enemies yak. seem to rely chiefly on their sense of smell, which isvery acute ; their hearing and sight being apparently less keen. Beyond Ladak, where they are more or less secure from persecu-tion
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectgameandgamebirds
