66 AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



the native women ride astride like men. We risked 

 it, however, and found it much easier than we 

 anticipated. The weather had become quite settled 

 again. Our caravan consisted of fifty pack and ten 

 mount ponies. Mr. Meyer accompanied us to the 

 frontier. Our first march (about thirty-five versts) 

 brought us about 4 p.m. to the banks of the river 

 Katoun, where we camped for the first time. The 

 current was very strong- here, especially in June, and 

 the river fairly broad. On our way we met several 

 stray Kalmuk "yourts." The sun was exceedingly hot, 

 and clouds of dust covered us as we trotted along the 

 path. We followed for some time the Urusoul River, 

 on which stands Ongudai. The aspect of the country 

 presented no perceptible change, and appeared to us 

 somewhat monotonous : the same rolling hills, the 

 same vegetation, the same trees, giving evidence of 

 occasional forest fires, probably caused by the care- 

 lessness of the Kalmuks. Our tents were soon 

 pitched on a grassy plain overlooking the Katoun. 

 A "yourt" had been put up for our friends, M. Meyer 

 and the Ispravnik, who both partook of our frugal 

 supper from the hands of Yassili, our cook. The 

 night was fresh, and it was freezing when we started 

 next morning. 



Towards 6 a.m. we crossed the Katoun with our 



