THEIR VARIOUS USES AND AILMENTS. 129 



lands of the Khalkas. On the other hand, the camels 

 from the latter country thrive perfectly at Koko-nor, 

 which is twice the elevation, and soon eat their fill 

 on the saline meadows near the lake. In summer 

 camels roam over the steppe unguarded, only coming 

 once a day to their master's well for water. On a 

 journey they are picketed for the night in a row 

 near the tent ; in winter when frost is very severe 

 the drivers sleep with them to keep themselves 

 warm ; on the road they are tied to one another by 

 their burunduks, and these must never be knotted, 

 lest the animal should tear its nostrils by a sudden 

 movement to one side, or by a step backwards. 



Camels are also ridden or driven in carts. In 

 riding the same kind of saddle as that used for 

 horses is put on their backs ; the rider mounts, and 

 orders the animal to rise. In dismounting the camel 

 is in general made to kneel down, but the rider may 

 jump from the stirrup when in a hurry. Its paces 

 are a walk or a trot, never a gallop or a canter ; 

 some will trot as fast as a good horse can gallop, 

 and you may ride a camel seventy miles a day for a 

 week. 



Besides serving as a beast of burden and for 

 riding, the camel supplies the Mongol with wool and 

 milk ; the latter is as thick as cream, but sweet and 

 disagreeable ; the butter made from it is far inferior 

 to ordinary butter, and is more like boiled fat. The 

 hair is spun into rope, which is mostly sold to the 

 Chinese. The wool is obtained by shearing the 

 animal when it begins to shed its coat, i.e. in March. 

 vol.. I. к 



