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194 ADVENTURES IN TIBET.
side of the stream where we were. Then, after the cable
had been stretched along the bank, I and Kutchuk stepped
into the boat, and whilst I paddled with all my might dia-
gonally across the stream, Kutchuk stood with the other
end of the cable in his hand, ready to jump ashore and
make it fast the moment we reached the right bank. The
rope, however, proved too short ; we failed to make the
opposite bank and were carried down by the current, but
eventually managed to haul ourselves back to the starting-
point. Then, after adding another length of rope, we
repeated our former manoeuvre, and this time with better
fortune. Having made our cable fast, we drew it tight
from both sides, until it no longer touched the surface of
the water.
Our next proceeding was to drive the horses together in
a bunch, and we induced them after some hesitation to
swim across the river ; but to get the camels across was a
far more difticult task. Nothing we could do would induce
them to swim ; indeed, I never have seen a camel swim.
The only thing, therefore, was to haul them across one by
one. After having by main force pushed and shoved the
first camel into the water, we flung a rope round his neck,
by means of which Turdu Bai, kneeling in the stern of the
boat, kept the beast’s head above water. Meanwhile, I
pulled the boat across the river by hauling at the out-
stretched cable. But as the camel did nothing to help
himself, only lay on the water and complacently floated,
I had his entire weight as well as the force of the current
hanging upon my hands and arms, and had to exert myself
to the utmost to keep my hold, for if I had once let go we
should all have drifted out into the salt lake, and the camel
would have been lost. However, I got him safely across.
and it was a sight to see him sprawling about until he felt
firm ground under his feet, and condescended to stand up-
right. As he stood on the bank alone, looking wonderingly
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