Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XXIX.—Pulling for Life on the Chargut-tso
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440 ADVENTURES IN TIRET.
minute ; and no sooner did I ask them to flourish their
swords and kinces in the air than their warhke instinct
awoke, and the liorses becoming restless, the entire troop
charged straight ahead at the gallop, shouting and yelling
as if they were about to make an attack. It was indeed a
fine sight to see them racing across the steppe with their
reins dangling loose on their horses’ necks, and their
weapons and accoutrements clattering and flashing in the
sun. Meanwhile the camera had to wait until their warlike
ardour was abated, and they could be made to understand
that, when it comes to photographing, there is no need to
howl and yell so desperately loud.
The Tibetans requested us to stay yet another day ;
tliat is, over the 20th September, that being one of their
great holidays. This I agreed to gladly, because I wished
to have a trip on the fjord. Selecting Khodai Kullu as
boatman, I embarked and set out for the west ; but no
sooner did we get out into the open part of the lake than a
westerly storm broke over it, and within a few minutes the
lake was in violent commotion. We were, of course, driven
back to our starting-point, and it was as much as the two
of us could do, each wielding an oar, to keep the boat
straight before the waves. The Tibetans gathered on the
hillsides in a close-packed crowd and watched, motionless
as statues, our battle with the Chargut-tso. Now the
shift’ disappeared from their sight, dipping into the trough
of the waves ; now she was lifted high on a crest, and hung
there shivering and creaking amongst the flying spray.
But within a very few minutes we were back to the shore,
and after we had been swept in by a big wave, Khodai
Kullu jumped out, while at the same moment the Cossacks
dashed into the breakers, and between them they carried
me high and dry up the beach, where the Tibetans flocked
round to convince themselves that I was still alive. Later
on in the day we had better fortune, and we remained out
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