Across the Roof of the \V(jrld. 



ground a mile or more from camp I obtained a fine view of the 

 Ebi Nor Lake, which is about 40 miles long and of an average 

 breadth of 25 miles. The shores to the south and west are flat 

 and covered in places with a salty deposit. From the distance 

 the lake had the appearance of a vast inland sea. 



I had a long round that day but only saw three ewes, so 

 the sheep are evidently very rare. The entire country bore a 

 deserted and desolate aspect, and the array of gravel-strewn 

 hills, bare of any fohage, gave one the impression of being at the 

 ends of the earth, to which the Ebi Nor, lying a few miles away, 

 a tremendous stretch of water disappearing into the east, lent 

 additional colour. 



The country on the northern shores of this great lake contains 

 wild horses and Gindan, my shikari, informed me we should see 

 some, but that to get into close touch with them would be a 

 matter of great difficulty, as the animals were exceedingly shy 

 and wary and would take to instant flight on scenting the least 

 danger. 



The wild horse was first discovered in Mongolia by the 

 famous Russian explorer Prejevalski, after whom it is named 

 {Equus prejevalski). Those I encountered stood some 13 

 hands and carried shaggy coats and long manes; they 

 appeared eminently suitable for a strenuous life in these barren 

 lands where the scanty vegetation would reduce other and less 

 hardy animals to starvation. I found it impossible to get nearer 

 than 450 yards, or thereabouts, for their powers of scent and 

 hearing are developed to a remarkable extent. 



In the afternoon I tried fresh ground to the west in search of 

 argali, but there was no sign of life though we scoured the 

 country for miles around. 



On returning to camp and a consultation with the shikari, 

 I realised that to bag a specimen of the sheep would neces- 

 sitate my devoting more time than I could now afford. I 

 was still many hundreds of miles distant from the Altai, and 

 the closing in of winter warned me that to hope for a chance 



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