The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
WILD HORSES OF .THIBET.
DUEL or STATIONS AND A BATTLE
BE1UEEN HERDS

4 Conflict in which Many Fell.
William Jameson Reid who spent several
years in exploring China and Thibet. gives the
following account of the wild horses Of Thibet
in his book Through Unexrlored Asia" which
Is to he issued shortly:
Wild horses. called by the Sifanese D1erlik-
dd,, are very numerous in the country to tho
eastward of Sukul at the base OF the mountain
ranges. They are generally in large herds. very
shy. aud when frightened continue their
night for days. They are never hunted.
owing to- the difficulties OF the chase, but
captured by strong nooses attached
TO sunkcn stakes. distributed in the dis
tricts which they are known to frequent.
in this manner insurng their capture without
injury. These horses usually roam over the
country in groups Of fifty to hundred. Each
lot Of mares is led By stallion the size Of
who's" family depends on his age. strength and
courage. his individual qualities keeping his
herd together over this lie maintains the
most strict watchfuness. for If he describes in
tru,lcrs from other herds in his ranks he rushes
to the encounter and tries in every wav by
biting and kicking to drive them of During
the breeding season tho males are exceptions
ally aggressive. and encounters among them
selves. and even attacks on human beings. are
Of frequent occurrence.
Long before reaching this country we had
been entertained 10y numerous narratives OF Q
more or less nchulous character concerning
the almost human characteristics OF these ami
mails, in which stories we had placed no more
faith than i'll thOs" usually told by the natives.
The head man Ot Sukul we had Immediately
concluded was no better than his fellows for
Il" TOLD such astonishing tales of the doings Of
this equine nation that We momentarily ex-
ie"ted h" would tell Of cities. forts and houses
built by them. We wcro all the more sur
nris"d. therefore. when, on the second day. he
came to Us with the assertion that. IL we were
s'iil inrr"duous. he was ready and willing to
put proof to the test. as several OF his hunt
crs had reported number Of herds in the
valley plain to the southwark. Accordingly.
shortly before nirhtfall. we rode for some
hours until we ha reached spot whence We
could overlook the plain whore were In
formed the astonishing wonders OF which we
had been told might be- performed.
About IL O'Clock as. shivering with the
almost Arctic GOODNESS of the weather, we were
E.Hiug futile efforts to keep warm. and ours
ing our stupidity in coming to verify fairy tales
W" were aroused to action by an ominous stir
among our ponies. who were strainng at their
tethnrs and whnnying nervously. few min
utes later weird. shrieking howl. as OF some
soul in dire distress. tlOatod through the air,
, sounding near at hand and yet far removed.
Following the guide. wa mounted to little
jutting crag overlooking tn broad plain which
stretched away for miles from the foot Of
tho broad plateau. and there. indeed.
saw sight which almost beggared
description Tho broad expanse. lighted
by the new moon. which rendered the
surrounding country almost as luminous as
day. was filed with herds upon herds Of
horses Of every size. color. and description.
For several moments We were dumfounded
at a sight SO thrilling and awe ins pring-a
vast, surRing mass OF living. breat hing animals
bu-ily engaged in feeding on the luxuriant
n hn a fhn pinlf
! air resoundcd a blood -curdling neigh. as clear
as a bugle call: and Immediately the herd
Anoi4er prolonged neigh. pitched in some:
whole herd hoIted up the valley, as orderly
and regularly as the finest disciplined army.
leaders symmctricay arranged ahead OF the
! main body; and thanking and rear detachments
ON reaching thu, head OF the plain once
! more they came to a halt and grazing was re-
foIIawing ,ha acton Of this herd that we had
| not noticed that another fully as large had
stalled themselves on the feeding grounds just
! vacated. The scene in front was now ALL
ten j. the enthraiIinr Interest Of The The" moment.
| For half an hour both herds cropped the short
grass in siisnc" when en- as shT neigh from the
/ their direction; They had all stopped feeding.
( denly from out the compactly gathered mass
ssprang a gigaptic stallion. who after paving
! III" earth and meanwhile neiRhing hercely.
I at = G gallon full half mile up
ns @ry stoRnSE eSosSy fT hund FS
another animal was, GallopiqG down in a
| to accept the challenge The newcomer was a
magnificent snow-whte. and. with the clear
sSmtcI gigantic appearance when contrasted
with his smaller antagonist. When within q
! quarter of mile Of each other the two beasts
/ came to another halt and stool facing their re-
spective herds. paving the ground and neigh
4 in the manner of two actors Ia sword combat
! making the preliminary flourish previous to
This overture lasted for fully fifteen min
! utes. when with startling suddenness both
OTHER With the velocity %" OF weIi.eimed pro-
| Jcct!!cs Nearer and nearer they came IN their
mani nw@rh garfer ana we Mere waiting the
! com. together with tremendous force But.
no. TOR when within twenty feet of each other
! each other cautiously for ii moment, as II
nw9tims the ny%c.ssary Hrenngi And then:
| leaned 10 tn" encounter.
ITO describe the events of the next ten min
In any measure n faint idea Of the supreme
grandeur and weirdness Of this hereuleann
each other time and time, again like immense
cat4lHi,, they fought Tit9 tooth and hSot
| herds. who had meanwhile approached nearer
t. the struggle, gazing on their leaders as Il
=
within n few feet Of the titanic com bat to de.
. srrih" accurately the events Of that short
! quarter 81 an hour. The two beasts could be
seen rearing in the air, locked toget her Ike two
I wr"Stl"rs, their teeth tearing each other and
| their great hOOfs rrentlessly Kicking In all
| directions with the force Of pile drivers. Both
| animals ,wer" firing perreptbly when In an
| l.. slant all was over 4 sharp rally. and then
| the ghostly form Of the biz white stallion rose
! alone. and on the ground lay the PROSTATE body
/ OF his antagonist. The victor cuntented him
/ self with giving uttorance to short, exultant
| rr!ghs. and ever and anon kicking the body Of
| his defeated fee.
We had seen the great equine duel but we
| littI" knew what was yet in store for us. Soon
! there was movement in both herds. and with
| tn" same military prOmptnoSs as we had witt
! messed before. with the mares and colts in the
! centre. the two bodies formed. and without
! III" least warning or signal rushed at each
/ Other 1t seemed rs ii the very heavens were
| falling ill., The din and crash as they swept
! tOE"th"w. even at our distance. was terrific.
and IN III" clear moonlight could be seen the
rolling mass Of contestants surging like o
| hug" wave over the pam, At tho end Of ten
Z minutes. aud ~ suddenly AS it had COM
I,t Il. ri,pt nI and thn ftuA