Among the Himalayas (1899) by Laurence Waddell
Chapter V (5): The Alpine Lachoong Valley To The Tibetan Frontier – The Tang-kar, Dong-Kia, Seeboo, Pata and Gora Passes
Page 223-224 labeled “Wild Men of The Mountains.”
In the morning, as the snow had ceased, and it lay only about a foot deep, we decided to push on to the pass. But as the thermometer at sunrise registered 8° of frost, or 24° Fah., it was some time ere my shrivelled-up men were ready for starting. The Tibetan soldiers fortified themselves against the cold with bits of frozen raw meat, like Laplanders, which they shredded up with their daggers. No wind, fortunately, was then blowing, or it would have been dangerously keen.
The track was marked out by mounds of stones, and led across the river to the left bank, and re-crossed about the sixth mile, at a spot called Jarwa (17,000 feet elevation), near which are two small lakes. The Tibetan captain and his men accompanied us, and as his yak clambered nimbly over the snow-laden stones, far outdistancing my pony, which slid and stumbled so badly that I could make little use of it, he kindly offered me the use of his yak. It, however, refused to let me mount, and made several plunges at me as I approached it, although held back by the rope through its nose-ring. And I was not sorry that I had failed to mount it, for some time afterwards the tackle of ropes that fastened on the rough saddle loosened, and the captain came down from his high perch with a rush, and on the top of him came all his cooking-pots and pans, which were carried in two bags slung on behind the saddle.
Some large footprints in the snow led across our track, and away up to the higher peaks. These were alleged to be the trail of the hairy wild men who are believed to live amongst the eternal snows, along with the mythical white lions, whose roar is reputed to be heard during storms. The belief in these creatures is universal among Tibetans. None, however, of the many Tibetans I have interrogated on this subject could ever give me an authentic case. On the most superficial investigation it always resolved itself into something that somebody heard tell of.
These so-called hairy wild men are evidently the great yellow snow-bear (Ursus isabellinus), which is highly carnivorous, and often kills yaks. Yet, although most of the Tibetans know this bear sufficiently to give it a wide berth, they live in such an atmosphere of superstition that they are always ready to find extraordinary and supernatural explanations of uncommon events. Looking at these footprints, I thought of the poor snow-bears pent up in the sweltering heat of the Calcutta “Zoo”, and what they would not give to get into such arctic regions.
Disclaimer: This 1899 book excerpt was published prior to 1931. Under United States copyright law (specifically the 95-year rule), this work has entered the public domain and is thus free to use or republish. It is presented here as an interesting and folkloric oddity.
Source(s): https://archive.org/details/amonghimalayas00waddrich/page/222/mode/2up
Note: Ursus isabellinus = Himalayan brown bear (critically endangered subspecies)
Categories: Newspapers, Abominable Snowman