Forging Ahead 



imparted information on the Altai and the country bordering on 

 the Black Irtish Valley, which districts constitute the main 

 pasture grounds of his people. 



The latter were divided into ten sections of i,ooo auls, the 

 head of each section being responsible for the good behaviour 

 and conduct thereof. In the summer months the nomads move 

 up into the higher ground amidst the valleys on the southern 

 slopes of the Altai, but during the winter they remain in the 

 Black Irtish Valley and the country contiguous to it. 



The Kazaks own nominal allegiance to the Chinese, but it 

 is of a sketchy nature. 



East of Gum, at a distance of about twenty miles, is situated 

 the great Kesil Bach Nor. The chief told me there were now 

 no Kazaks there, but that many were in the habit of visiting 

 the pasture grounds round the lake during the spring. 



I arranged to hire horses for my trek northwards to the Altai 

 and the new town of Shara Sumbe, which lay four days' march 

 further on — judging from the information I gleaned from the chief. 



The wind blew hard during the night, but it died down a 

 little at daylight. The weather was, however, dull and gloomy, 

 and the outlook not a pleasant one. We were, of course, used 

 to such climatic conditions, but hoped the wind would rest 

 quiet and not add to our difficulties. 



I paid off the Mongols from Wong, and engaged a fresh band 

 of Kazaks through the instrumentahty of the chief, to proceed 

 with me as far as the Black Irtish Valley, or, at any rate, I trusted 

 they would do so, though quite prepared for their absconding 

 without previous notice. 



I said good-bye to the hospitable chief and then struck 

 east through some low hills out on to a vast plain sloping 

 gradually downward to a wide open valley — where dwelt a few 

 Kazaks in auls encircled by walls of brushwood to keep off the 

 wind — west of the Kesil Bach Lake, which liere forms the 

 principal feature. 



567 



