KALGAN. 35 



and is an in^portant place for the Chinese trade with 

 Mongoha.^ Kalgan numbers 70,000 inhabitants, 

 who are entirely Chinese, but include a great many 

 Mahomedans, known throughout China by the name 

 of Hzuei Hwei. Two Protestant missionaries, and 

 several Russian merchants enoraored in the tea-car- 

 rying trade, reside here. Notwithstanding the in- 

 creased importation of tea by sea, and the consequent 

 diminution of the land transport, 200,000 chests are 

 still annually sent from Kalgan to Urga and Kiakhta, 

 each weia"hins;- 108 lbs. This tea is brouo;ht to Kal- 

 gan from the plantations near Hankau," partly by 

 land and partly by steamers, to Tien-tsin ; one-half 

 is then delivered to Russian merchants for further 

 transport, and the remainder is forwarded to Kiakhta 

 or Urga^ by the Chinese themselves. The Mon- 

 ^^ols are the carriers, and earn large sums from this 

 business, which only lasts during the autumn, winter, 

 and early spring (up to April). In summer all the 

 camels are turned out to grass on the steppe, where 

 they shed their coats and recruit their strength for 

 fresh work. 



The caravans of tea form a very characteristic 

 feature in Eastern Mongolia. In early autumn, i.e. 

 towards the middle of September, long strings of 

 camels may be. seen converging on Kalgan from all 

 quarters, saddled, and ready to carry a burden of 



1 Russian cloth, plush and furs are also sent hither. 



"^ This town is on the lower Yangtszc-Kiang, or Blue River ; in it 

 are the establishments of the Russians and other Europeans engaged 

 in the tea-trade. 



^ Some of the tea is left here for the consumption of the Mongols. 



D 2 



