MODES OF LOADING. 125 



liberty. When a few months old it is tied near the 

 yurta to separate it from the mother, which is then 

 regularly milked by the Mongols. In the second 

 year of its existence, its nostrils are slit and a short 

 wooden stick inserted, to which a rope {biir2ind2ik) is 

 afterwards fastened which serves as a halter. It is 

 then taught to lie down at the word of command, by 

 being pulled by the burunduk while the word ' sok, 

 sok, sok' is repeated. In its third year it is taken 

 with the caravan to accustom it to travel in the 

 desert ; at the age of three it may be ridden ; at 

 four it is strong enough to carry a small load ; and 

 at five it is quite fit for work. 



A camel can bear a load till old aee, i.e. to 

 twenty-five and upwards ; between five and fifteen 

 it is considered in its prime. It will live upwards of 

 thirty years, and under favourable circumstances to 

 forty. 



In loading it, the saddle is first fastened on its 

 back, and afterwards the pack placed upon it. In 

 the Khalka country six or eight pieces of felt are 

 used to wrap round the back and humps underneath 

 the saddle, a light wooden framework is then laid 

 over these to take off the pressure of the packs. ^ 

 In Northern Mongolia bags filled with straw {bam- 

 bai) are used instead of felt, the woodwork being 

 the same. Great care must always be taken in loading 

 camels, otherwise they are apt to get sore backs and 



^ The pack is always securely fastened to the saddle with ropes ; 

 except in the case of tea chests, which are simply slung over the 

 saddle. 



