A Disquieting Outlook. 



I reviewed the situation and finally resolved to move up the 

 Black Irtish Valley and across the eastern shoulder of the Altai 

 into the town of Kobdo. The latter is situated on a plateau, a 

 distance of fifteen to twenty days' trekking, the actual length of 

 time taken being dependent on the state of the weather and 

 the probability of being held up by other adverse conditions. 



From Kobdo I purposed continuing either eastward through 

 Mongolia to Uhasutai, Urga and Kiakhta, or northwards past 

 the Ubsa Nor Lake to the Siberian-Mongolian frontier, and 

 down the Yenisei River to Krasnoyarsk, on the Trans-Siberian 

 Railway. 



There are no ammon on the southern slopes of the Altai, 

 but in long conversations I had with Haji Ismail Bai and 

 Mongols acquainted with the country, I learnt there were Altai 

 Wapiti {Cervus canadensis asiaticus) on this side. 



The Siberian roe-deer {Capreolus pygargtis) is found, too, in 

 the Altai, but its habitat is the same as that of the Thian Shan — 

 the foothills and fairly open forest country on the northern slopes. 



Red bear of the variety I had heard of in the Black Irtish 

 Valley also exist on the southern slopes, and, judging from skins 

 I saw, they must be very fine specimens, the coats being large 

 and extremely furry. 



The 27th was dull and threatening, heavy clouds obscuring 

 the sky, with a steady fall of snow throughout the day, causing 

 me much misgiving for the forward trek. In the afternoon I had 

 another look round, and then went to take tea with the Chinese 

 Officer Instructor of the troops, who hailed from Pekin and was 

 acquainted with Europeans and desirous of seeing radical 

 changes introduced into China's mihtary forces. 



I had arranged in Shara Sumbe for 14 ponies and four men as 

 drivers to accompany me to Kobdo by the southern route, and 

 the Ching Sai had also detailed a Mongol Beg, or small official, 

 with two levies to escort me thus far. He had furnished me with 

 a special passport for the territory within his charge so that the 

 nomad Mongols and Kazaks might see I was traveUing with the 



