200 AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



to abandon our journey towards the Muss-Taou 

 range, and, turning off northwards, found "fresh fields 

 and pastures new." 



On the morning of the 8th of July we struck 

 camp, in spite of our Kalmuk's unwillingness to 

 go further, and mounted our steeds at 7 a.m. We 

 waited till the ponies were duly loaded, and, sending 

 them off in front, followed them up at close quarters. 

 We soon found ourselves on the banks of the Kobdo 

 River, which at that spot attains a width of 300 feet, 

 and is very rapid. Its water was deep and muddy, 

 as we discovered later, owing to its chief tributary, 

 the Tchagan-Kol, which we reached on the following- 

 day, and which flows through sandy and clayey soil. 

 Above the tributary the water of the Kobdo was 

 perfectly clear, and afforded capital fishing. As we 

 entered the valley and began ascending its left slope 

 we were agreeably surprised at the sight of small 

 woods bordering the river, consisting chiefly of larch, 

 willow, ash, and abundance of juniper in full bloom. 

 This considerably altered the aspect of the country, 

 which had hitherto been dreary and desolate. What 

 with the heat of the day and hard ground, our 

 caravan advanced very slowly. The unshod ponies 

 had gradually worn away their hoofs, and were now 

 most of them footsore. Moreover, our men were 



