sharpened points project inwards and downwards; these
are buried just below the surface, and the unsuspecting
antelope treading upon one, passes a foot through the ring,
is unable to withdraw it, and is slaughtered at ease. Their
flesh forms excellent eating.
The Tib etan G a z e lle (Gazella picticaudccta)
This gazelle is commonly known by its native name of
“goa” (pronounced “goo-er”). Its habitat extends from Hanl4
in British territory in the west to China in the east, and
between the 35 th degree of latitude to the northern slopes of
the Himalayas, at a height of between 14,000 and 16,500 feet.
It is closely allied to the Chinkara of Hindustan, and is
one of the most beautiful animals in existence.
It stands about twenty-five inches at the shoulder, and is
of a reddish-grey colour, with a most conspicuous white rump,
in the centre of which is a small black tail. During movement,
or when the animal is excited, the skin along the ribs
is drawn forward, thereby extending the white hairs on the
hind quarters until a perfect ruff is formed. It is difficult
to assign a reason for the conspicuous marking, as these
gazelle live in valleys and on ground devoid of scrub jungle,
and attention is often drawn to their whereabouts by their
appearance.
Their alarm-note is a sharp, penetrating “ shoo,” which
at once puts the whole herd on the alert. When they are
frightened, their mode of progression is similar to that of the
Indian antelope, viz., by bounds, all four feet moving in
the same direction at once; as a rule, on sighting an enemy
they make off immediately, not stopping for a second look.
They rarely gaze uphill, as they apparently never expect
danger from that direction.
Their senses of hearing, scent and sight are well developed,
and as they are shy and always on the alert, afford excellent
sport for the rifle.
The favourite haunts of the goa are grassy, easy-sloping
nullahs and spurs, with rich, short grass and running water
close at hand.
The horns are of a most graceful shape, closely ringed
and black in colour; they usually grow to a length of from
12 to 14J inches.
The flesh is delicious.
B u r h e l (Ovis nahura)
This animal is known to the natives by the name of
Napoo (male na). It stands about thirty-three inches at the
shoulder, is of a bluish-slaty colour, and forms the link
between the sheep and goat tribes.
But little description is needed, as the burhel is familiar
to most sportsmen in the Himalayas, being shot yearly in
great numbers in Ladak and the neighbouring states. In
Kudok we found them in great herds, particularly in the hills
north of Bum Tso, where the highlands are much cut up by
precipitous ravines, the ground between being flat and stony,
on the tablelands and in these ravines vast herds of burhel
were always visible.
A very large percentage of these were females and young,
and we only rarely saw a male with a really good head; but
old horns measuring as much as thirty inches were frequently
picked up in the river-beds.
Burhel, though affording good sport, are not difficult to
shoot; the unusual shape of the horns and the difficulty of
obtaining a pair measuring over twenty-eight inches, make
this animal a welcome prize to the sportsman. The record
head measures 31 \ inches; circumference, 13£ inches; tip
to tip, 2 2 \ inches. The flesh affords excellent eating.
N?an (Ovis ammon)
Again but little need be said about this fine beast, which
shares with the ovis poli the honour of being the largest of
all sheep. It may, however, save disappointment to some
future sportsman, to state that during our first journey not
one shootable ram was seen by us, though near Aru Tso large
numbers of ewes and young were daily found grazing in the
neighbouring ravines. They are, however, very numerous in