not admit that this enormous difference in size justified
him in setting them down as a new species, but the
practical results of having these double-powered
scavengers probably contributed in no small degree to
our comfort. Outside our defences the unclaimed
pi-dogs roamed all day and howled nearly all the night.
By day they were probably engaged in unearthing the
long-buried limbs of some wretched Tibetan killed
during the attack upon the post on May 5th. By night
they seemed to be disputing among themselves the
possession of the disgusting spoils they had secured
during the day. At one time Colonel Brander arranged
for the destruction of some scores of these parasites.
But this was found to be a somewhat dangerous proceeding
when carried out within half a mile of the camp.
Two charges of attempted assassination were brought
by a person of no small importance in the post, and,
though these cases were smilingly dismissed, there
was undoubtedly a certain element of danger in permitting
this indiscriminate dog-slaughter with rifles
which were capable of inflicting serious harm at a range
of 4,000 yards. So the dogs were permitted to grout in
the ground as they liked, and as a set-off against the
intolerable nuisance of their howls by night, it was
remembered that they might perhaps thereby give us
useful warning of any second attempt on the part of
the Tibetans to creep up in the darkness of a moonless
night.
Of the dogs within the defences “ Tim ” was perhaps
the best known, and certainly in his own eyes the most
important. He was an Irish terrier belonging, so far
as any dog very certainly belonged to anyone there,
to Captain Cullen, but the members of the Mission,
making a contemptible use of the few occasional tit-bits
which were found in their mess-boxes, successfully seduced
him away from his true allegiance for some time. Of
other dogs mention must be made of “ Mr. Jackson, a
little beauty of an Irish terrier, who we were assured
enjoyed every minute of his life in spite of a permanently
dislocated shoulder. He undoubtedly limped,
and he even more certainly enjoyed life ; but we could
not help hoping that some mistake had been made in
the diagnosis of his complaint. “ Major Wimberley, a
fearsome hound, had undoubtedly bull-dog and fox-
terrier as his chief ingredients, but it was difficult finally
to exclude his claims to any other breed of dog, except
perhaps a greyhound or Pekinese pug. I do not remember
what the real name of this entirely attractive
dog was, but he used to go, on the below-stairs principle,
by his master’s name, and I am sorry that no
photograph I possess seems to include his sober countenance.
“ The Lama ” was a snarling, bad-tempered
little beast, who produced a litter of pups of such
appalling vulgarity and ugliness that, in spite of the
real need which we then had of the companionship of
even an animal, they were drowned by her native owner
without a protest from anyone.
To many it may seem unnecessary, and perhaps silly,
to make even this passing reference to the dogs that
shared our captivity. But without going more deeply
into the matter, I would only say that a critic should
experience even the slight investment which it was our
lot. to undergo before he speaks slightingly of the right
of a dog to grateful recollection.
For the rest, one day succeeded another without
change, and except for the uncertainty of the arrival of
Vol. I 22*