i 7 o 



AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



before reaching the karaoul we were met by half 

 a dozen Chinamen on horseback, all in the most 

 picturesque costumes. We understood that they had 

 been sent by the head official, or Kha, to welcome 

 us in Chinese territory. They wore sheepskin-lined 

 coats of different colours, by no means tight-fitting 



SKULLS OF SHEEP TILED UP IN HEAPS. 



breeches entering into Russian leather embroidered 

 top-boots with turned-up points at the toes, and 

 various-shaped caps, over which coral beads denoted 

 their respective ranks in Chinese hierarchy. One of 

 these men, who appeared to be in command, wore 

 a silver belt around his waist with numerous trinkets 

 attached to it, such as a pipe-case, a small box, a 



