Page:Mongolia, the Tangut country, and the solitudes of northern Tibet vol 1 (1876).djvu/242

170 brilliancy of colouring, and it is only close to a spring that you see vegetation at its best.

During our fortnight's sojourn in the Munni-ula we went on several shooting excursions, often passing our nights in the mountains to take advantage of the early morning for sport. We were unsuccessful, however, in killing a stag, although they abound here, but just at this season they are eagerly sought after by the native hunters for the sake of their young antlers, which are highly esteemed in China. The most valuable are those with a third branch, containing the largest quantity of blood; they are worth from fifty to seventy lans each (14l. to 18l.); old horns of course are valueless.

The demand for deers' antlers is so great that thousands are annually imported from Siberia viâ Kiakhta, to which place they are sent by post from the most remote parts; a great many are also bought by the Chinese on the Amur, and sent to Peking through Manchuria.

During my residence on the Amur as well as on the present expedition I often enquired what use these young horns were put to, but never received any satisfactory answer. The Chinese keep it a profound secret; if report is to be believed, they undergo some preparation, and are used as a strong stimulant by the Celestials. I will not vouch for the veracity of this statement, but in any case young antlers take an important place in the Chinese pharmacopœia, or they would not be so extensively used or fetch such high prices.