ii6 QUALITY OF WATER. STEPPE HORSES. 



There are Chinese villages and numerous Mon- 

 gol yurtas on the Dolon-nor road, and countless 

 herds of sheep, cows, and horses in every part of the 

 steppe. 



Topographically, this region may be described as 

 a series of vast uneven plains with a sandy, and, in 

 some places, saline soil, but covered everywhere with 

 rich excellent orrass. There is an utter absence of 

 trees or bushes, but streams and small lakes are 

 more numerous here than in other parts of Mongolia. 

 The water, however, in the latter is filthy ; to have 

 an idea of it, take a tumbler of water mixed with a 

 tea-spoonful of dirt, flavour with a pinch of salt, add 

 a little lime for colour and goose droppings for 

 smell, and you will then obtain a liquid similar to 

 that in most of the Mongolian lakes. The natives, 

 however, far from showing any repugnance to this 

 nectar, boil their tea in it the whole year round, and 

 even we were fain to drink it for want of better. 

 The great steppe country through which we passed 

 on our way from Dolon-nor is the pasture land of 

 the Imperial horses. Every herd (called dargu by 

 the Mongols) of these animals numbers 500, and is 

 under the charge of an officer, a superior functionary 

 being placed over all. They supply the cavalry 

 remounts in time of war. 



Let us now say a few words about the Mongol 

 horses. They are rather under the average height, 

 their legs and neck thick, their head large, and their 

 coat long and shaggy. They possess wonderful 

 powers of endurance, remaining out in the open 



