CHAPTER XIX. 



Across the Mongolian Steppes. 



Whilst in Chuguchak I settled the details in connection 

 with the route to the Great Altai Mountains and onwards 

 through Mongolia. It had been my intention, when I set 

 out from India, to proceed from the Thian Shan, through 

 Dzungaria and Mongolia, to the Altai, which I hoped 

 to cross north of the Black Irtish Valley and thence get 

 down on to the Ammon ground, situated on the northern slopes 

 of the mountains in question. The exact geographical position 

 of the region for which I was now heading lies between the 

 Russian frontier at Kosh Agach and the main chain of the Altai. 



•It was in Chuguchak that I first began to realise great diffi- 

 culty would be experienced in carrying out this programme in 

 its entirety. As to whether the passes over the Altai were 

 practicable at this season of the year no precise information could 

 be obtained, but all agreed it would be an undertaking attended 

 by the gravest danger, and meet with certain disaster if attempted. 

 I, however, determined to essay the task since the main object 

 of the expedition was centred on the Altai, and the hopes of 

 being successful in bagging some specimens of the grand sheep 

 who there has his home were sufficient incentives to me to push 

 on in spite of heavy odds. From the Ammon ground I purposed 

 proceeding east to Kobdo, UHassutai and Urga, and thence north- 

 ward to Kiakhta and Irkutsk, and so to Pekin, Shanghai and 

 India. 



The day after the dinner I called at the Russian Consulate 

 to get my Russian passport viseed, as the official regulations on 

 the subject require that all travellers entering the Russian 



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