it imperative for one’s. own safety, to abandon= all
idea of such luxuries.
The only other alternative is riding, and this
was my invariable mode of travelling, though I
always took with me, by way of precaution in
case of sickness or accident, a small dhoolie,
which is a more primitive kind of palanquin, very
much smaller, lighter, and more portable. Asfar
astberoads permitted, Itook withmemygallant
Arab steeds, so long my faithful companions, and
when obliged to send them back to the plains
(owing to their being totally unfit for work in
the rugged mountain paths of the Interior), I rode
instead, the sturdy ponies which are the natives
of those hill regions. In the most snowy and pre-
captious mountains, where even these are con-
cidered unsafe, if mounted, I was obliged to ride
the oxen of the country, (called “Yd.'s,”) while
my ponies were formed into herds, and driven like
sheep under the charge of one or two hill"-men.
The “Yaks” are very unlike any oxen we
seining other part of the world. They are
bred at an elevation varying from twelve
thousand to eighteen thousand feet. above the
level of the sea, and they never thrive at less
elevated spots, though they have been known
to exist as low down as ten thousand feet.