Across the Roof of the, World. 



full licence and authority of the representatives of the Son of 

 Heaven. 



Giyani had iinj)r()\'(-'d and was now niiicli better, so I 

 fixed my departure for the 28th on my way to Kobdo ; the first 

 march out from Shara Sumbe being Burtakhoi, in the Irtish 

 Valley, some 25 miles south. The morning dawned fairly bright, 

 and though it had snowed heavily the previous day and during 

 the night had ceased before daybreak. The outlook was as 

 cheery as could be expected in the Mongolian uplands at the 

 end of December, though there was deep snow everywhere 

 and the cold was intense. During the night the thermometer 

 never dropped to less than 25 to 30 degrees below zero, in itself 

 not a serious menace, but, accompanied by the winds for which 

 Mongolia is noted, it spells death to all who are luckless enough 

 to be overtaken by it. 



After bidding good-bye to the hospitable Haji, I rode forth 

 with the caravan out on to the frozen wastes to the south. 

 It was useless halting longe: in Shara Sumbe so I determined 

 to make the attempt to reach Kobdo, as further delay could not 

 have improved the position but would rather have added to the 

 difficulties already sufficiently formidable. From Shara Sumbe, 

 on across the plain stretching away to the centre of the Black 

 Irtish Valley the country is entirely open, there being no shelter 

 available from the winds which sweep it at this period of the 

 year. 



About eighteen miles out one enters a bush and scrub jungle 

 inhabited here and there by scattered groups of Kazaks who 

 rest quietly within the shelter of their auls, herding the flocks 

 near by, and passing the time until spring releases the land 

 from its wintry grasp and renders movement a matter of 

 possibihty and safety. Until this central part of the valley is 

 reached there is nothing to relieve the eye but a bleak and 

 snow-covered wilderness, and it is one I could not help 

 contrasting with pleasanter places I had known in various parts 

 of the world. 



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