I Reach the Great Altai. 



which forms the main article of trade in Mongolia. Ismail Bai 

 and his brother received me most hospitably, and gave over one 

 of the rooms in their house for my use, where I was comfortably 

 installed. 



As I have said, Shara Sumbe lies in the foothills of the Great 

 Altai, at an elevation of 2,850 feet above sea level. The town is 



ISMAIL P,AI. 



founded on the site of an ancient monastery wherein formerly 

 dwelt many red and yellow robed lamas, but the monastery 

 has now given place to the new town established by the 

 Chinese with a view to consolidating their hold on Western 

 Mongolia and the Altai region. The population consists of 

 Mongols and Chinese, the majority of the shops being in Chinese 



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