TCHOUIA VALLEY 



75 



There were no more signs of villages ; only a few 

 " yourts " witnessed the presence of human beings, 

 and the occupants of these were so frightened at 

 the sight of us that they would rush off and hide 

 under the rocks until our caravan had passed. At 



"waving the legs ok the skins to and fro." 



4 p.m. we reached a place called Iodro, on the 

 banks of the Tchouia, where we camped for the 

 night, the ponies having had a march of forty 

 versts. Here the Ispravnik promised us a curious 

 sight. He sent for a Kalmuk priest who lived in 

 his yourt in the neighbourhood, and on the latter's 



