Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 88 (Color Image)

0088	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

58 PEKING TO LHASA

one of the open ends with a piece of oilcloth and

lying on a waterproof sheet. And in this flimsy

shelter and by means of an elaborate system of

trenching he was able to withstand a heavy

thunderstorm which burst on them in the evening.

The next day he climbed the Ta-pan-au

(8640 feet) to the N.N.E. in a vain search for

pandar. Though not very steep, after the first

mile the going was tedious. He had to force his

way through bamboo scrub from 2 to 4 feet

high. The hill-side was dense with trees whose

branches were often too high to step over and too

low to get under. Creepers would catch him

round the leg. Branches which looked substantial

would give way. Also the ground was very

slippery. In such a country there was hardly a

chance even of seeing a pandar. And for the

small hunting dogs to drive one to him, even if

they found one, could not be expected. A pandar

might easily pass within 10 yards without being

seen. Naturally, therefore, Pereira's search was

fruitless.

On another hill which he climbed on August 1

his search was equally vain. It also was covered

with bamboo scrub and trees. And his hunters

were not keen on their job and knew nothing of

the pandar's way or his likely haunts. And as

he had not come across a single track or sign of an

animal, Pereira returned to Chung-tsui-shang.

On August 6 he set off westward, and after a

very stiff climb crossed the Weng-ting Ta Pass

(10,170 feet), from which he had grand views

down the valley he had been ascending. Then he

had a long descent for over 4 miles, constantly

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