WILD HORSES OF THIBET.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 242, 21 October 1901, Page 4

WILD HORSES OF THIBET.

A il/’ iM. rt ; ar<.- very numerous "n the cu.m- 5 .-.isiw.iru m mikljl :it the base of J tlio mcun’.uir. langc-s. i'lioy are gcueiaiiy j l : n.-ui r, shy. .-.mi when iiightau-d j n,> ;• h::. o.:-ni 1 > the .ii:::cud:o< ei i;v j L-.:.ir \ •■r.i iu • cap iirtM uy arong ivjkCc :U- j t lei. vi io . ..ilka; s.;.k s, diils iU.ti u 1:1 the 1 d:?:rlc.s v. ■»i i*. ik.y ate kr.o n ;o linjuc-m. .;■* :ni r in.-uvim: li’e:r <-.q>’u:*; wit::out injury. Ihcse n» :ws usuanv ruam ova tt:e c autry In g-ot:p» of ou t-.- 100. h aai k-i * oi mate- \aby :i stailion. tile size of ‘ \.-ho:C LUti’ly depends 011 Hi? ay-.-. si.vrgrh • arid con race. his individual qualities keeping h..- herd togs-t iici’. *.>wr this he maintains j the most suict Walcnr.i nos?, tor \i hi* d- • 1 cries inti udei'a from ether herds in bis ranks • he vu.-Lc? to the uiv.urri ami trios in uuy wav hv oiling and r.jckixg 10 drive them oh. j Dinim: the me• .line season the mates ei. : eieeptton.il y agerer ;v- . and encounters •: among [•lomseiv.'s. an i even uttaCKs on' human beings, au oi ir qaent occurs nor. ; L e - U-iV.v naming uu = country v,Laid ; been ua a'iam .1 by numerous inuratiws of ’ a more or ie-ss nebulous rharacn. r concerning me almost human < i'.arurtci wiics e! animals. in winch atones .w had pl.t ted no more (uitu turns in those usually tola by the native-. Tin head man oi Mikal wc iian re..in- dlately concilia- d was no better than hn feilows, for he told such astonishing tales of the doings of this equine nation that we momentarily expected he would tell of cities, j forts and houses omit by them. We were all | the more surprised, therefore, when, on the second day, ne came to us with the insertion I that, if we were still incredulous, he was ready and willing to put proof to the test, as several of his hunt rs had reported a number of herds in the valley plain to the southward. Accordingly, shortly before nightfall, we rede for some hours, until we had reached a spot, whence we could overlook the plain where we wore informed the astonishing wonders of which we had been told might bo performed. About ten o’clock, as, shivering with the almost Arctic coldness of the weather, we were making futile efforts tu keep warm, and cursing our stupidity in coming iu verify imy talcs, we wen- amused to action by an ominous stir among our j oints, uho iM.ro straining at tlicii tethers and whinnying nei\eusiy. A few minutes 1 later a we;id, shrieking howl, a? ot some -oul in dire distress, boun d through lln no. sounding n at at hand, yet tar u.moicd. Following the guide, we mounted to a little jutting crag overlooking the broad plain which stretched away for miles faun the foot of the broad plateau.-and there, indeed, saw a sight which almost beggared description. Tire broad expanse, lighted by the new moon, which rendered the surrounding country almost as luminous as day, was filled with herds upon herds of horses of every size, color and description. For several moments we were dumbfounded at a sight so thrilling and awe-inspiring—a vast, surging mass of living, breathing animals busily engag d in feeding on the luxuriant grass of the valley. Suddenly upon the night air resounded a blood-curdling neigh, as clear as a bugle cali; and immediately the held stopped feeding, and stood with head erect, as a mighty army at the call of its leader. Another prolonged neigh, pitched in a somewhat higher key, and, like a whirlwind, the whole herd bolted up the valley, as orderly and regularly as the finest disciplined army, with the throe or four who seemed to be the leaders symmetrically arranged ahead of the main body, and banking and rear detachments pooled with studious exactness. On reaching the head of the plain once move they came to a halt and grazing was resumed. Our attention had been so drawn in following the action of this had that we had not noticed that another fully as large had come from far down the valley and had installed themselves un the feeding grounds just vacated. The scene in front was now all-engaging; cold and fatigue were alike forgotten in the enthralling interest of the moment. For half an hour but a herds 1 cropped the short, gtass in silence, when a shrill neigh from the group nearest to us attracted our attention in their direction. They had all stopped I ceding, and stood restless and fearful, as if detecting the approach of some terrible enemy. Suddenly from out the complaetly gathered mass sprang a gigantic stallion, who, after pawing the earth, and meanwhile neighing fiercely, proceeded at a gallop a full half-mile up the valley, stopping every’few hundred feet to repeat his bellicose neighing. Following his movements we now saw that another animal was galloping down in a similar manner from the other herd, doubtless to accept the challenge. The newcomer was a magnificent snow white, and, with the clear light of the moon shining upon him, he presented a gigantic appear- ’ ance when contrasted with his smallei ; antagonist. When within about a quarter ; of a mile of each other the two beasts cairn j 1 to another halt, and stood facing their respective herds, pawing the ground and \ neighing fiercely, bonding their shapely necks ' much in the manner of two actors in sword 9 combat making the preliminary flourish previous to deadly action. “This overture lasted for fully fifteen minutes, when, with startling suddenness, both animals leaped around and rushed at each other with the velocity of well-aimed projectiles. Fearer and nearer they came in their mad, onward career, and we were waiting the moment when the two grand beasts must come together with tremendous force. But, no: for, when withip twenty feet ol each other, they came back on then haunches, and eyed each other cautiously foi a moment, as if awaiting the neceseary opening. And then, with one last defiant neigh at each other, they leaped to the encounter. “To describe the events of the next ten minutes would require pages of hyperbole to ! give in any measure a faint idea of the supreme grandeur and weirdness of this herculean struggle between two giants. They rushed at each other time and time again like again immense catapults ; they fought with tooth and hoof, while no other sound could be heard—the two herds, who had meanwhile approached nearer to the struggle, gazing on their leaders as if carved in stone. One would have had to be within a few feet of the titanic combat 1o describe accurately the events of that short quarter of an hour.- The two beasts couhl be seen rearing in the air, locked together like two wrestlers, their teeth tearing each other and their great hoofs relentlessly kicking in all directions with the force of pile-drivers. Both animals were tiring perceptibly, when in on instant all was over. A sharp rally, [and then the ghostly form of the big white stallion rose alone, and on the groung lay the prostrate body of his antagonist. The victor contented himself with giving utterance to short, exultant neighs, and ever and anon kicking the body of his defeated foe. “ We had seen the great equine duel, but we little knew wliat was yet in store for us. Soon there was a movement in both herds, and with the same military promptness as we had witnessed before, with the mares and colts in the centre, the two bodies formed, aud, without the least warning or signal, rushed at each other. It seemed as if the very heavens were falling in. The din and j crash as they swept together, even at our distance, was terrific, and in the clear moonlight could be seen the rolling mass of contestants surging like a huge wave over the plain. At the* end of ten minutes, and as suddenly as it hod commenced, the battle terminated, and the two herds slowly separated. We could now see some of the results of the awful conflict for, scattered here and there all over the plain, were the foims of those who bact fallen in the sanguiuary.