THE GAllTOK EXPEDITION 265
red variety gave place to the black, but they were
far too cunning to give us another chance, even at
a long range ! Small herds of yaks were occasionally
seen wending their way to lower ground where grazing
prospects were more promising, and flocks of sheep
and goats eked out a precarious existence in all the
more sheltered valleys.
The valuable pashm, or silken underwool, is obtained
from these goats during the spring and summer
months, the animals spending the winter in the
highest altitudes, in order that the wool may be as
thick and profuse as possible. Pashm, though greatly
appreciated by the Tibetans for the manufacture of
their underclothing, is in such request by the merchants
of Srinagar and Amritsar for the manufacture of the
famous Kashmir and “ ring ” shawls that the demand
is always greater than the supply, and the price rises
enormously before it reaches its destination. The
Tibetans themselves rarely bring the wool to Kashmir
or India, this being done by many hundreds of
Ladakis and men of the Hill States, who visit the
fairs annually and carry back their purchases in little
saddle-bags strapped on the backs of sheep.
The largest flocks of sheep and goats were
encountered in the ravine of Trok-poh-shar, where
a halt was made on the second niOg ht after leavingO
Barkha. The valley was so sheltered from the bitter
winds that the stream which ran down the centre was
only partially frozen, and grass, still retaining a
vestige of green, was still growing on both banks.
Here innumerable sand-grouse had taken up their abode,
and though their tameness was such that sporting
shots were out of the question, yet they afforded a
very welcome addition to our table, as we had seen
no game-birds for the past three weeks, and were