IP4 GOITRE. THE К RING AN RANGE. 



fields. But they are so confined as to be ill adapted 

 for human habitation, and some of the inhabitants 

 are dreadfully disfigured by goitres. 



We passed numerous trains of carts, asses, and a 

 few camels on the road, employed in the transport 

 of rice and millet to Peking ; large droves of swine 

 were also being driven to the capital, pork being the 

 favourite food of the Celestials. As we left behind 

 the plains of China the climate gradually became 

 colder, the thermometer at sunrise only marked 7° 

 Fahr., but during the day it was warm, and snow 

 had entirely disappeared, except on the northern 

 slopes of the higher mountains. 



The ascents are very gradual. Ku-peh-kau on 

 the southern side of the mountains is only 700 feet 

 above sea-level ; while Dolon-nor, situated on the 

 elevated plain, which spread out before us on issuing 

 from the mountains, is 4,000 feet high. On the 

 Mongolian side this region is sharply defined by an 

 alpine chain which, as the inhabitants told us, extends 

 a long distance to the north, and is probably the 

 great Khingan range, separating Manchuria from 

 Mongolia. Where we crossed, only one side of the 

 range — that towards the mountains, is fully de- 

 veloped ; on the other the wild scenery is suddenly 

 transformed into low, rounded hills ; vegetation 

 undergoes as marked a change in the absence of 

 trees and bushes. No more bold cliffs and pointed 

 peaks, but in their stead vast uneven plains surround 

 the spectator, where the marmot, the antelope, and 

 the Mongol lark reappear. 



