SANDHILLS CALLED GUCHIN-GURBU. 107 



this point of the road a succession of sandy hillocks, 

 called by the natives Giichin-giirbtL, i.e. thirty-three, 

 extends as far as Dalai-nor. This name probably 

 denoted the countless number of the hills, which vary 

 in height from thirty to fifty, and in some instances 

 100 feet, and lie in close proximity to each other 

 without any regularity. They are chiefly sand, in 

 some places quite bare, but more frequently cover- 

 ed with grass or willow bushes, interspersed with 

 an occasional oak, lime, and black and white birch. 

 Quantities of hares and partridges are found in the 

 underwood ; pygargs and wolves in smaller num- 

 bers. We passed an occasional valley suited to 

 cultivation, but the Mongol encampments were rare 

 owing to the scarcity of water, although an occasional 

 Chinese village might be seen. The numerous cart- 

 tracks of Chinese, who come here from Dolon-nor to 

 obtain wood for fuel, cause one easily to lose one's 

 road without a guide, which happened to us several 

 times during our first day's journey among the 

 Guchin-gurbu. There are no landmarks to steer 

 by, one hill is exactly like another, and as soon as 

 you have ascended one, dozens more, all as though 

 cast in the same mould, rise up in front of you. The 

 Mongols say that these hills begin at the sources of 

 the Shara-muren and continue for upwards of 150 

 miles to the west of Dalai-nor. 



No sooner had we reached the shores of this 

 lake than луе witnessed the maonificent sieht of a 



о о 



was given it because in dividing Eastern Mongolia into the present 

 aimaks it was the last that remained. 



