IMPORTANCE OF THEIR HERDS. 57 



frightful squalor, who could relish carrion, shuddered 

 when he saw us eat duck a Г EiLVOpeenne. 



Their only occupation and source of wealth is 

 cattle-breeding, and their riches are counted by the 

 number of their live stock, sheep, horses, camels, 

 oxen, and a few goats — the proportion varying in 

 different parts of Mongolia.^ Thus, the best camels 

 are bred among the Khalkas ; the Chakhar country 

 is famous for its horses, Ala-shan for its goats ; and 

 in Koko-nor the yak is a substitute for the cow. 



The Khalka country ranks first in the wealth of 

 its inhabitants, who are mostly well oh""; even after 

 the cattle-plague had destroyed countless oxen and 

 sheep, large herds were still owned by individuals, 

 and there is hardly a native but possesses some hun- 

 dred of the fat-tailed sheep. In Southern Mongolia, 

 i.e. in Ordos and Ala-shan, the sheep are of a differ- 

 ent breed, and at Koko-nor they have yet another 

 kind with horns eighteen inches lonof. As all the 



о о 



requirements of life : milk and meat for food, skins 

 for clothing, wool for felt, and ropes, are supplied by 

 his cattle, which also earn him large sums by their 

 sale, or by the transport of merchandise, so the 

 nomad lives entirely for them. His personal wants, 

 and those of his family, are a secondary considera- 

 tion. His movements from place to place depen J on 



^ The price of cattle varies in different parts of the country thus ; 



In Khalka In the Chakhar In Koko-nor. 

 country. country. 



Sheep . . 2 to 3 . . 2 to 3 . . I to i^ . ^.^i^^^^ 



Oxen . . 12 „ 15 . . 15 . . 7 „ 10 ( ians= 



Camels • . 3° » 35 • • 40 . . 25 [ ^s. Ы. 



Horses . . 12 „ 15 . . 15 . . 25 J per head. 



