d to a
unicorn that died in a menagerie of the Rajah of Nepaul. It had been
presented to this prince by the Lama of Digourtchi (Jikazze), who was
very fond of it.

The persons who brought the animal to Nepaul informed Mr. Hodgson that
the tchirou mostly frequented the beautiful valley or plain of Tingri,
situated in the southern part of the Thibetian province of Tsang, and
watered by the Arroun. To go from Nepaul to this valley, you pass the
defile of Kouti or Nialam. The Nepaulese call the valley of Arroun
Tingri-Meidam, from the town of Tingri, which stands there on the left
bank of the river; it is full of salt-beds, round which the tchirous
assemble in herds. They describe these animals as extremely fierce, when
they are in their wild state; they do not let any one approach them, and
flee at the least noise. If you attack them, they resist courageously.
The male and the female have generally the same aspect.

The form of the tchirou is graceful, like that of all the other animals
of the antelope tribe, and it has likewise the incomparable eyes of the
animals of that species; its colour is reddish, like that of the fawn in
the upper parts of the body, and white below. Its distinctive features
are, first a black horn, long and pointed, with three slight curvatures,
and circular annulations towards the base; these annulations are more
prominent in front than behind; there are two tufts of hair which project
from the exterior of each nostril, and much down round the nose and
mouth, which gives the animal's head a heavy appearance. The hair of the
tchirou is rough, and seems hollow, like that of all the animals north of
the Himalaya that Mr. Hodgson had the opportunity of examining. The hair
is about five centimetres long, and so thick that it seems to the touch a
solid mass.

Beneath the hair, the body of the tchirou is covered with a very fine and
delicate down, as are almost all the quadrupeds that inhabit the lofty
regions of the Himalaya mountain, particularly the famous Cashmere goats.

Doctor Abel has proposed to give to the tchirou the systematic name of
_Antelope Hodgsonii_ after the name of the learned person who has placed
its existence beyond a doubt. {248}

At Atdza we changed our oulah, although we had only fifty lis to go
before we reached the residence of Lha-Ri. We required fresh animals
accustomed to the dreadful road we had below us. One single mountain
separated us from Lha-Ri, and to c