Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 87 (Color Image)

0087	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

A SHOOTING EXPEDITION 57

wound up the picturesque valley of the Ta-ho

between low wooded hills. Farther on the going

became very rough, and owing to heavy rain

all streams were swollen. Pereira therefore ex-

changed his heavy boots for the sandals of the

country. Often he had to cross a mad, raging

torrent. The path was narrow and steep, leading

up and down hill-sides, sometimes over uneven

rocks, sometimes over rough shingle in a river-bed.

Leeches, too, were an additional discomfort.

Having established himself in the valley of

the T'ung-ch'ang Ho, a fierce mountain torrent,

Pereira set out on July 30 on a five days' trip to

try and get a giant pandar. He limited his trans-

port to four coolies. His baggage consisted of

the outer fly of his tent to serve as a tente d'abri,

a waterproof sheet, a Gladstone bag, wash-basin,

rifle, camera, water-bottle and some food. And

he was accompanied by his cook and two or three

hunters who, as well as the coolies, bore various

weapons ranging from a Mauser rifle to flint-locks,

and what resembled a cross between a carbine and

a pistol flint-lock. He travelled south-west up the

Tung-tzuchi valley between high hills. Houses

and cultivation were soon left behind, and the hill-

sides were covered with trees and undergrowth

while the valley bed was covered with shrub and

wild flowers.

He halted at an elevation of 7480 feet, at the

foot of a hill over which he intended to shoot.

The small mountain torrent roared below. His

fellows found some rough accommodation in a

rickety mountaineer's hut, whilst with logs and

stones he fitted up his outer fly, protecting part of

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