oui-Oussou, or, as the Thibetians call it, Polei-Tchou
(river of the Lord.) Towards its source, this magnificent river bears
the name of Mouroui-Oussou (tortuous river); further on it is called
Kin-Cha-Kiang (river of golden sand), and arrived in the province of
Sse-Tchouan, it becomes the famous Yang-Dze-Kiang (blue river.) As we
were passing the Mouroui-Oussou, on the ice, a singular spectacle
presented itself. We had previously, from our encampment, observed dark,
shapeless masses, ranged across this great river; and it was not until we
came quite close to these fantastic islets that we could at all make head
or tail of them. Then we found out that they were neither more nor less
than upwards of fifty wild cattle, absolutely encrusted in the ice. They
had no doubt attempted to swim across the river, at the precise moment of
the concretion of the waters, and had been so hemmed in by the flakes as
to be unable to extricate themselves. Their fine heads, surmounted with
great horns, were still above the surface; the rest of the bodies was
enclosed by the ice, which was so transparent as to give a full view of
the form and position of the unlucky animals, which looked as though they
were still swimming. The eagles and crows had pecked out their eyes.

Wild cattle are of frequent occurrence in the deserts of Hither Thibet.
They always live in great herds, and prefer the summits of the mountains.
During the summer, indeed, they descend into the valleys in order to
quench their thirst in the streams and ponds; but throughout the long
winter season, they remain on the heights feeding on snow, and on a very
hard rough grass they find there. These animals, which are of enormous
size, with long black hair, are especially remarkable for the immense
dimensions and splendid form of their horns. It is not at all prudent to
hunt them, for they are said to be extremely ferocious. When, indeed,
you find two or three of them separated from the main herd, you may
venture to attack them; but the assailants must be numerous, in order to
make sure of their game, for if they do not kill the animal at once there
is decided danger of his killing them. One day we perceived one of these
creatures licking up the nitre in a small place encircled with rocks.
Eight men, armed with matchlocks, left the caravan, and posted themselves
in ambush, without being detected by the bull. Eight gun-shots were
fired at once; the bull raised his head,